Wireless-enabled kiosk for recycling consumer devices

ABSTRACT

Wireless-enabled kiosk systems and associated methods for recycling and performing other processes with mobile phones and other electronic devices are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods for wirelessly connecting a consumer-operated kiosk with an electronic device to facilitate processing (e.g., purchasing) the device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a wireless link to identify a device, evaluate a device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the device, locate a device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/873,158, titled “WIRELESS-ENABLED KIOSK FOR RECYCLING CONSUMERDEVICES,” filed by the applicant on Oct. 1, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.10,475,002, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.62/059,129, titled “WIRELESS-ENABLED KIOSK FOR RECYCLING CONSUMERDEVICES,” filed by the applicant on Oct. 2, 2014. The entire disclosuresof the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety and made part of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed generally to methods and systems foranalyzing and recycling mobile phones and other consumer devices and,more particularly, to wireless methods and systems for facilitatingidentification, evaluation, and other processes associated withrecycling consumer devices.

BACKGROUND

Consumer electronic devices, such as mobile phones, laptop computers,notebooks, tablets, MP3 players, etc., are ubiquitous. Currently thereare over 6 billion mobile devices in use in the world; and the number ofthese devices is growing rapidly with more than 1.8 billion mobilephones being sold in 2013 alone. By 2017 it is expected that there willbe more mobile devices in use than there are people on the planet. Inaddition to mobile phones, over 300 million desk-based and notebookcomputers shipped in 2013, and for the first time the number of tabletcomputers shipped exceeded laptops. Part of the reason for the rapidgrowth in the number of mobile phones and other electronic devices isthe rapid pace at which these devices evolve, and the increased usage ofsuch devices in third world countries.

As a result of the rapid pace of development, a relatively highpercentage of electronic devices are replaced every year as consumerscontinually upgrade their mobile phones and other electronic devices toobtain the latest features or a better operating plan. According to theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. alone disposes of over370 million mobile phones, PDAs, tablets, and other electronic devicesevery year. Millions of other outdated or broken mobile phones and otherelectronic devices are simply tossed into junk drawers or otherwise keptuntil a suitable disposal solution arises.

Although many electronic device retailers and cell carrier stores nowoffer mobile phone trade-in or buyback programs, many old mobile phonesstill end up in landfills or are improperly disassembled and disposed ofin developing countries. Unfortunately, however, mobile phones andsimilar devices typically contain substances that can be harmful to theenvironment, such as arsenic, lithium, cadmium, copper, lead, mercuryand zinc. If not properly disposed of, these toxic substances can seepinto groundwater from decomposing landfills and contaminate the soilwith potentiality harmful consequences for humans and the environment.

As an alternative to retailer trade-in or buyback programs, consumerscan now recycle and/or sell their used mobile phones using self-servicekiosks located in malls, retail stores, or other publically accessibleareas. Such kiosks are operated by ecoATM, Inc., the assignee of thepresent application, and are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.8,463,646, 8,423,404, 8,239,262, 8,200,533, 8,195,511, and 7,881,965,which are commonly owned by ecoATM, Inc. and are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

There continues to be a need for improving the means available toconsumers for recycling or reselling their mobile phones and otherelectronic devices. Simplifying the recycling/reselling process,enhancing the consumer experience, and discouraging fraud canincentivize consumers to dispose of their old electronic devices in anefficient and environmentally conscientious way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a machine configured in accordance withan embodiment of the present technology for recycling electronicdevices.

FIGS. 2A-2D are a series of isometric views of the machine of FIG. 1with a number of exterior panels removed to illustrate operation of themachine in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating various components associatedwith the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a suitable distributed computingenvironment for implementing various aspects of the present technology.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a routine for wirelessly receivinginformation from an electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone) inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a routine for wirelessly connecting a kioskto a device in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 7 is a display diagram illustrating a screen display or graphicaluser interface (GUI) that graphically and textually providesinstructions for wirelessly connecting a device to a kiosk in accordancewith embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a routine for loading software on a devicesuch as a mobile phone in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a routine for initiating a software downloadin accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a routine for wirelessly receivinginformation from the device in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram of a routine for enabling a knownelectronic device to automatically connect to a kiosk-provided wirelessnetwork in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a routine for inducing a notification onthe device accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a routine for providing wireless networkaccess to resolve a device issue in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a routine for disassociating a device froma remote user account in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIGS. 15A-15B are display diagrams illustrating device screensassociated with disabling a remote account associated with the device inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 15C-15D are display diagrams illustrating instructions fordisassociating a device from a remote user account in accordance withembodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a routine for wirelessly activating adevice in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 17A-17B are display diagrams illustrating screens associated withactivating a mobile device in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 18 is a display diagram illustrating an instruction for activatinga device in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of a routine for filtering wirelesscommunications in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of a routine for identifying a wireless devicein accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of a routine for identifying a connectedwireless device in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram of a routine for recording wireless deviceactivity in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 23 is a flow diagram of a routine for locating a device inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 24A-24D are a series of display diagrams illustrating instructionsfor submitting a device in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure describes various embodiments of systems andmethods for providing a wireless connection to electronic devices tofacilitate identification, evaluation, and other processes associatedwith purchasing and recycling consumer electronic devices. In variousembodiments, for example, a consumer-operated kiosk provides a wirelessnetwork connection, allowing a consumer to connect a device to the kioskwithout a physical connector. The kiosk can then receive informationabout the connected device to help the consumer successfully interactwith the kiosk. For example, in some embodiments, the kiosk uses thewireless connection to identify and evaluate the user's device todetermine a price to offer for the device. Providing a wirelessconnection between a device and the kiosk can thus allow the consumer tosell and recycle the device at the kiosk more quickly and easily. Insome embodiments, the wireless connection helps the consumer prepare adevice for possible sale at the kiosk 100, e.g., by allowing theconsumer to install a software application (an “app”) on the device orresolve issues that could be reducing the device's resale value. Forexample, if the consumer has protected the device with a remote killswitch feature that allows a lost or stolen device to be remotely resetor made unusable, the feature must typically be disabled before thedevice can be sold to a new user. The kiosk can provide a wirelessInternet connection for the user to disable such a remote kill switchfeature before completing the purchase transaction.

In various embodiments, a wireless-enabled kiosk can identify nearbywireless devices, automatically allow recognized devices to connect tothe kiosk's wireless network, interact with software on a wirelessdevice (e.g., causing an app associated with the kiosk to trigger anotification on the device), and/or obtain information transmitted viathe provided wireless network. In some embodiments, the kiosk canobserve and record the presence of wireless devices in its vicinity,e.g., assessing traffic patterns and volume or associating the presenceof a wireless device with activity at the kiosk—for example, identifyinga nearby wireless device as a known device of a repeat, high-valuecustomer or as potentially belonging to an individual who has attempteda fraudulent sale. In some embodiments, the kiosk can use the wirelessconnection to reduce fraud by verifying that a purchased device has beenproperly submitted to the kiosk and not exchanged for a fake device.

Certain details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS.1-24D to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of thepresent technology. In other instances, well-known structures,materials, operations and/or systems often associated with smartphonesand other handheld devices, consumer electronic devices, computerhardware, software, and network systems, etc. are not shown or describedin detail in the following disclosure to avoid unnecessarily obscuringthe description of the various embodiments of the present technology.Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that thepresent technology can be practiced without one or more of the detailsset forth herein, or with other structures, methods, components, and soforth.

The terminology used below is to be interpreted in its broadestreasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with adetailed description of certain examples of embodiments of the presenttechnology. Indeed, certain terms may even be emphasized below; however,any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner willbe specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section.

The accompanying Figures depict embodiments of the present technologyand are not intended to be limiting of its scope. The sizes of variousdepicted elements are not necessarily drawn to scale, and these variouselements may be arbitrarily enlarged to improve legibility. Componentdetails may be abstracted in the Figures to exclude details such asposition of components and certain precise connections between suchcomponents when such details are unnecessary for a completeunderstanding of how to make and use the invention.

In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify identical, or atleast generally similar, elements. To facilitate the discussion of anyparticular element, the most significant digit or digits of anyreference number refers to the Figure in which that element is firstintroduced. For example, element 110 is first introduced and discussedwith reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a kiosk 100 for recycling and/or otherprocessing of mobile phones and other consumer electronic devices inaccordance with the present technology. The term “processing” is usedherein for ease of reference to generally refer to all manner ofservices and operations that may be performed or facilitated by thekiosk 100 on, with, or otherwise in relation to an electronic device.Such services and operations can include, for example, selling,reselling, recycling, donating, exchanging, identifying, evaluating,pricing, auctioning, decommissioning, transferring data from or to,reconfiguring, refurbishing, etc. mobile phones and other electronicdevices. Although many embodiments of the present technology aredescribed herein in the context of mobile phones, aspects of the presenttechnology are not limited to mobile phones and generally apply to otherconsumer electronic devices. Such devices include, as non-limitingexamples, all manner of mobile phones, smartphones, handheld devices,PDAs, MP3 players, tablet, notebook and laptop computers, e-readers,cameras, etc. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the kiosk 100can facilitate selling and/or otherwise processing larger consumerelectronic devices, such as desktop computers, TVs, game consoles, etc.,as well smaller electronic devices such as Google Glass™, smartwatches,etc. The kiosk 100 and various features thereof can be at leastgenerally similar in structure and function to the kiosks andcorresponding features described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,463,646, 8,423,404,8,239,262, 8,200,533, 8,195,511, and 7,881,965; and in U.S. patentapplication Ser. Nos. 12/573,089, 12/727,624, 13/113,497, 12/785,465,13/017,560, 13/438,924, 13/753,539, 13/658,825, 13/733,984, 13/705,252,13/487,299 13/492,835, 13/562,292, 13/658,828, 13/693,032, 13/792,030,13/794,814, 13/794,816, 13/862,395 and 13/913,408. The disclosedtechnology also includes the disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/498,763, titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRICING AND PERFORMINGOTHER PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH RECYCLING MOBILE PHONES AND OTHERELECTRONIC DEVICES,” filed by the applicant on Sep. 26, 2014; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/500,739, titled “MAINTAINING SETS OFCABLE COMPONENTS USED FOR WIRED ANALYSIS, CHARGING, OR OTHER INTERACTIONWITH PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES,”filed by the applicant on Sep. 29,2014; U.S. provisional application No. 62/059,132, titled “APPLICATIONFOR DEVICE EVALUATION AND OTHER PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH DEVICERECYCLING,” filed by the applicant on Oct. 2, 2014; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/506,449, titled “SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALLY TESTINGMOBILE DEVICES AT A CONSUMER-OPERATED KIOSK, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES ANDMETHODS,” filed by the applicant on Oct. 3, 2014; U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/073,840, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECYCLINGCONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” filed by the applicant on Oct. 31, 2014;U.S. provisional application No. 62/073,847, titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMSFOR FACILITATING PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH INSURANCE SERVICES AND/OROTHER SERVICES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” filed by the applicant on Oct.31, 2014; U.S. provisional application No. 62/076,437, titled “METHODSAND SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING AND RECYCLING ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” filed bythe applicant on Nov. 6, 2014; U.S. provisional application No.62/090,855, titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATIONREGARDING COUPONS/PROMOTIONS AT KIOSKS FOR RECYCLING MOBILE PHONES ANDOTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES,”filed by the applicant on Dec. 11, 2014; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/568,051, titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FORIDENTIFYING MOBILE PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” filed by theapplicant on Dec. 11, 2014; U.S. provisional application No. 62/091,426,titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECYCLING CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICES,”filed by the applicant on Dec. 12, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/598,469, titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DYNAMIC PRICING ANDPERFORMING OTHER PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH RECYCLING MOBILE PHONES ANDOTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” filed by the applicant on Jan. 16, 2015; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/660,768, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORINSPECTING MOBILE DEVICES AND OTHER CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH ALASER,” filed by the applicant on Mar. 17, 2015; U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/663,331, titled “DEVICE RECYCLING SYSTEMS WITH FACIALRECOGNITION,” filed by the applicant on Mar. 19, 2015; U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/169,072, titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VISUALLYEVALUATING ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” filed by the applicant on Jun. 1, 2015;U.S. provisional application No. 62/202,330, titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMSFOR INSPECTING MOBILE DEVICES AND OTHER CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITHROBOTIC ACTUATION,” filed by the applicant on Aug. 7, 2015; and U.S.provisional application No. 62/221,510, titled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FORINTERACTIONS WITH A SYSTEM FOR PURCHASING MOBILE PHONES AND OTHERELECTRONIC DEVICES,” filed by the applicant on Sep. 21, 2015. All of thepatents and patent applications listed in the preceding sentences arecommonly owned by the applicant of the present application, and theyalong with any other patents or patent applications identified hereinare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

In the illustrated embodiment, the kiosk 100 is a floor-standingself-service kiosk configured for use by a user 101 (e.g., a consumer,customer, etc.) to recycle, sell, and/or perform other operations with amobile phone or other consumer electronic device. In other embodiments,the kiosk 100 can be configured for use on a countertop or a similarraised surface. Although the kiosk 100 is configured for use byconsumers, in various embodiments the kiosk 100 and/or various portionsthereof can also be used by other operators, such as a retail clerk orkiosk assistant to facilitate the selling or other processing of mobilephones and other electronic devices.

In the illustrated embodiment, the kiosk 100 includes a housing 102 thatis approximately the size of a conventional vending machine. The housing102 can be of conventional manufacture from, for example, sheet metal,plastic panels, etc. A plurality of user interface devices are providedon a front portion of the housing 102 for providing instructions andother information to users, and/or for receiving user inputs and otherinformation from users. For example, the kiosk 100 can include a displayscreen 104 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or light emitting diode(LED) display screen, a projected display (such as a heads-up display ora head-mounted device), and so on) for providing information, prompts,etc. to users. The display screen 104 can include a touch screen forreceiving user input and responses to displayed prompts. In addition oralternatively, the kiosk 100 can include a separate keyboard or keypadfor this purpose. The kiosk 100 can also include an ID reader or scanner112 (e.g., a driver's license scanner), a fingerprint reader 114, andone or more cameras 116 (e.g., digital still and/or video cameras,identified individually as cameras 116 a-c). The kiosk 100 canadditionally include output devices such as a label printer having anoutlet 110, and a cash dispenser having an outlet 118. Although notidentified in FIG. 1, the kiosk 100 can further include a speaker and/ora headphone jack for audibly communicating information to users, one ormore lights for visually communicating signals or other information tousers, a handset or microphone for receiving verbal input from the user,a card reader (e.g., a credit/debit card reader, loyalty card reader,etc.), a receipt or voucher printer and dispenser, as well as other userinput and output devices. The input devices may include a touchpad, apointing device such as a mouse, a joystick, pen, game pad, motionsensor, scanner, eye direction monitoring system, etc. Additionally thekiosk 100 can also include a bar code reader, QR code reader,bag/package dispenser, a digital signature pad, etc. In the illustratedembodiment, the kiosk 100 additionally includes a header 120 having adisplay screen 122 for displaying marketing advertisements and/or othervideo or graphical information to attract users to the kiosk. Inaddition to the user interface devices described above, the frontportion of the housing 102 also includes an access panel or door 106located directly beneath the display screen 104. As described in greaterdetail below, the access door is configured to automatically retract sothat the user 101 can place an electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone)in an inspection area 108 for automatic inspection by the kiosk 100.

A sidewall portion of the housing 102 can include a number ofconveniences to help users recycle or otherwise process their mobilephones. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the kiosk 100includes an accessory bin 128 that is configured to receive mobiledevice accessories that the user wishes to recycle or otherwise disposeof. Additionally, the kiosk 100 can provide a free charging station 126with a plurality of electrical connectors 124 for charging a widevariety of mobile phones and other consumer electronic devices.

FIGS. 2A-2D are a series of isometric views of the kiosk 100 with thehousing 102 removed to illustrate selected internal componentsconfigured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.Referring first to FIG. 2A, in the illustrated embodiment the kiosk 100includes a connector carrier 240 and an inspection plate 244 operablydisposed behind the access door 106 (FIG. 1). In the illustratedembodiment, the connector carrier 240 is a rotatable carrousel that isconfigured to rotate about a generally horizontal axis and carries aplurality of electrical connectors 242 (e.g., approximately 25connectors) distributed around an outer periphery thereof. In otherembodiments, other types of connector carrying devices (including bothfixed and movable arrangements) can be used. In some embodiments, theconnectors 242 can include a plurality of interchangeable USB connectorsconfigured to provide power and/or exchange data with a variety ofdifferent mobile phones and/or other electronic devices. In operation,the carrousel 240 is configured to automatically rotate about its axisto position an appropriate one of the connectors 242 adjacent to anelectronic device, such as a mobile phone 250, that has been placed onthe inspection plate 244 for recycling. The connector 242 can then bemanually and/or automatically withdrawn from the carousel 240 andconnected to a port on the mobile phone 250 for electrical analysis.Such analysis can include, e.g., an evaluation of make, model,configuration, condition, etc. using one or more of the methods and/orsystems described in detail in the commonly owned patents and patentapplications identified herein and incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inspection plate 244 is configured totranslate back and forth (on, e.g., parallel mounting tracks) to move anelectronic device, such as the mobile phone 250, between a firstposition directly behind the access door 106 and a second positionbetween an upper chamber 230 and an opposing lower chamber 232.Moreover, in this embodiment the inspection plate 244 is transparent, orat least partially transparent (e.g., formed of glass, Plexiglas, etc.)to enable the mobile phone 250 to be photographed and/or otherwiseoptically evaluated from all, or at least most viewing angles (e.g.,top, bottom, sides, etc.) using, e.g., one or more cameras, mirrors,etc. mounted to or otherwise associated with the upper and lowerchambers 230 and 232. When the mobile phone 250 is in the secondposition, the upper chamber 230 can translate downwardly to generallyenclose the mobile phone 250 between the upper chamber 230 and the lowerchamber 232. The upper chamber 230 is operably coupled to a gate 238that moves up and down in unison with the upper chamber 230. As notedabove, in the illustrated embodiment the upper chamber 230 and/or thelower chamber 232 can include one or more cameras, magnification tools,scanners (e.g., bar code scanners, infrared scanners, etc.) or otherimaging components (not shown) and an arrangement of mirrors (also notshown) to view, photograph and/or otherwise visually evaluate the mobilephone 250 from multiple perspectives. In some embodiments, one or moreof the cameras and/or other imaging components discussed above can bemovable to facilitate device evaluation. The inspection area 108 canalso include weight scales, heat detectors, UV readers/detectors, andthe like for further evaluation of electronic devices placed therein.The kiosk 100 can further include an angled binning plate 236 fordirecting electronic devices from the transparent plate 244 into acollection bin 234 positioned in a lower portion of the kiosk 100.

The kiosk 100 can used in a number of different ways to efficientlyfacilitate the recycling, selling and/or other processing of mobilephones and other consumer electronic devices. Referring to FIGS. 1-2Dtogether, in some embodiments a user wishing to sell a used mobilephone, such as the mobile phone 250, approaches the kiosk 100 andidentifies the type of device the user wishes to sell in response toprompts on the display screen 104. Next, the user may be prompted toremove any cases, stickers, or other accessories from the device so thatit can be accurately evaluated. Additionally, the kiosk 100 may printand dispense a unique identification label (e.g., a smalladhesive-backed sticker with a QR code, barcode, etc.) from the labeloutlet 110 for the user to adhere to the back of the mobile phone 250.After this is done, the door 106 retracts allowing the user to place themobile phone 250 onto the transparent plate 244 in the inspection area108 (FIG. 2A). The door 106 then closes and the transparent plate 244moves the mobile phone 250 under the upper chamber 230 as shown in FIG.2B. The upper chamber 230 then moves downwardly to generally enclose themobile phone 250 between the upper and lower chambers 230 and 232, andthe cameras and/or other imaging components in the upper and lowerchambers 230 and 232 perform a visual inspection of the mobile phone250. In some embodiments, the visual inspection can include a 3D visualanalysis to confirm the identification of the mobile phone 250 (e.g.make and model) and/or to evaluate or assess the condition and/orfunction of the mobile phone 250 and/or its various components andsystems. For example, the visual analysis can include an inspection of adisplay screen on the mobile phone 250 for cracks or other damage. Insome embodiments, the visual inspection can include performing opticalcharacter recognition (OCR) to identify printed or displayed patterns,codes, and/or text, and comparing characteristics of the patterns,codes, and/or text (e.g., layout, size, font, color, etc.) to templatesto determine the presence of device identifiers such as a model number,serial number, etc. In some embodiments, the kiosk 100 can perform thevisual analysis using one or more of the methods and/or systemsdescribed in detail in the commonly owned patents and patentapplications identified herein and incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

Referring next to FIG. 2C, after the visual analysis is performed andthe device has been identified, the upper chamber 230 returns to itsupper position and the transparent plate 244 returns the mobile phone250 to its initial position next to the door 106. The display screen 104can also provide an estimated price or an estimated range of prices thatthe kiosk 100 may offer the user for the mobile phone 250 based on thevisual analysis and/or based on user input (e.g., input regarding thetype, condition, etc. of the mobile phone 250). If the user indicates(via, e.g., input via the touch screen) that he or she wishes to proceedwith the transaction, the carrousel 240 automatically rotates anappropriate one of the connectors 242 into position adjacent thetransparent plate 244, and door 106 is again opened. The user can thenbe instructed (via, e.g., the display screen 104) to withdraw theconnector 242 (and its associated wire) from the carrousel 240, plug theconnector 242 into the corresponding port (e.g., a USB port) on themobile phone 250, and reposition the mobile phone 250 in the inspectionarea on the transparent plate 244. After doing so, the door 106 onceagain closes and the kiosk 100 performs an electrical inspection of thedevice to further evaluate the condition of the phone as well asspecific component and operating parameters such as memory, carrier,etc. In some embodiments, the kiosk 100 can perform the electricalanalysis using one or more of the methods and/or systems described indetail in the commonly owned patents and patent applications identifiedherein and incorporated by reference in their entireties.

In some embodiments, the user can attach the electrical connector to themobile phone 250 and/or perform an electrical analysis of the devicebefore the kiosk 100 performs a visual analysis of the phone. Forexample, in such an embodiment the user can approach the kiosk 100 andidentify the type of device (e.g., the make and model) he or she wishesto recycle, and/or the appropriate electrical connector for connectingto the device. The kiosk 100 can then use this information to stage theappropriate electrical connector at the inspection area. Alternatively,the kiosk 100 can present the user with a selection of standardelectrical connectors from which the user can determine an appropriateelectrical connector for connecting to the device. Either way, the door106 retracts and the user is instructed to withdraw the selectedconnector 242 from the carrier 240, plug it into the corresponding port(e.g., a USB port) on the mobile phone 250, and position the mobilephone 250 on the transparent plate 244 in the inspection area. The usermay also be prompted to remove any cases, stickers, or other accessoriesfrom the mobile phone 250, and adhere a unique identification label tothe back of the mobile phone 250 as described above. The door 106 thencloses and the kiosk 100 can perform an electrical inspection of themobile phone 250 as described above, and after the electricalinspection, a visual inspection as described above. The electricalinspection can include gathering device identification informationand/or other information, which the kiosk 100 can then use to customizefurther interaction with the user, such as to add or omit user inquiriesdepending on the type of device the user connects. Thus, in someembodiments, electrical inspection of the mobile phone 250 can occurbefore the user provides information about the mobile phone 250 to thekiosk 100.

After the visual and electronic analysis of the mobile phone 250, theuser may be presented with a phone purchase price via the display screen104. If the user declines the price (via, e.g., the touch screen), aretraction mechanism (not shown) automatically disconnects the connector242 from the mobile phone 250, the door 106 opens, and the user canreach in and retrieve the mobile phone 250. If the user accepts theprice, the door 106 remains closed and the purchase transactionproceeds. For example, the user may be prompted to place his or heridentification (e.g., a driver's license) in the ID scanner 112 andprovide a thumbprint via the fingerprint reader 114. As a fraudprevention measure, the kiosk 100 can be configured to transmit an imageof the driver's license to a remote computer screen, and an operator atthe remote computer can visually compare the picture (and/or otherinformation) on the driver's license to the person standing in front ofthe kiosk 100 as viewed by one or more of the cameras 116 a-c (FIG. 1)to confirm that the person attempting to sell the mobile phone 250 is infact the person identified by the driver's license. In some embodiments,one or more of the cameras 116 a-c can be movable to facilitate viewingof kiosk users, as well as other individuals in the proximity of thekiosk 100. Additionally, the person's fingerprint can be checked againstrecords of known fraud perpetrators. If either of these checks indicatethat the person selling the phone presents a fraud risk, the transactioncan be declined and the mobile phone 250 returned. After the user'sidentity has been verified, the transparent plate 244 moves back towardthe upper and lower chambers 230 and 232. As shown in FIG. 2D, however,when the upper chamber 230 is in the lower position the gate 238 permitsthe transparent plate 244 to slide underneath but not electronic devicescarried thereon. As a result, the gate 238 knocks the phone 150 off ofthe transparent plate 244, onto the binning plate 236 and into the bin234. The kiosk can then provide payment of the purchase price to theuser. In some embodiments, payment can be made in the form of cashdispensed from the cash outlet 118. In other embodiments, the user canreceive remuneration for the mobile phone 150 in various other usefulways. For example, the user can be paid via a redeemable cash voucher, acoupon, an e-certificate, a prepaid card, a wired or wireless monetarydeposit to an electronic account (e.g., a bank account, credit account,loyalty account, online commerce account, mobile wallet, etc.), Bitcoin,etc.

As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the foregoingroutines are but some examples of ways in which the kiosk 100 can beused to recycle or otherwise process consumer electronic devices such asmobile phones. Although the foregoing examples are described in thecontext of mobile phones, it should be understood that kiosk 100 andvarious embodiments thereof can also be used in a similar manner forrecycling virtually any consumer electronic device, such as MP3 players,tablet computers, PDAs, and other portable devices, as well as otherrelatively non-portable electronic devices such as desktop computers,printers, devices for playing games, entertainment or other digitalmedia on CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, etc. Moreover, although the foregoingexamples are described in the context of use by a consumer, the kiosk100 in various embodiments thereof can similarly be used by others, suchas store clerk, to assist consumers in recycling, selling, exchanging,etc. their electronic devices.

FIG. 3 provides a schematic representation of an architecture of thekiosk 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the kiosk 100 includes a suitable processoror central processing unit (CPU) 300 that controls operation of thekiosk 100 in accordance with computer-readable instructions stored onsystem memory 306. The CPU 300 may be any logic processing unit, such asone or more CPUs, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), etc. The CPU 300 may be a single processingunit or multiple processing units in a device or distributed acrossmultiple devices. The CPU 300 is connected to the memory 306 and may becoupled to other hardware devices, for example, with the use of a bus(e.g., a PCI Express or Serial ATA bus). The CPU 300 can include, by wayof example, a standard personal computer (PC) (e.g., a DELL OPTIPLEX7010 PC) or other type of embedded computer running any suitableoperating system, such as Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, or an embeddedreal-time operating system. In some embodiments, the CPU 300 can be asmall form factor PC with integrated hard disk drive (HDD) orsolid-state drive (SSD) and universal serial bus (USB) or other ports tocommunicate with the other components of the kiosk 100. In otherembodiments, the CPU 300 can include a microprocessor with a standalonemotherboard that interfaces with a separate HDD. The memory 306 caninclude read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM) or otherstorage devices, such as disk drives or SSDs, that store the executableapplications, test software, databases and other software required to,for example, control kiosk components, process electronic deviceinformation and data (to, e.g., evaluate device make, model, condition,pricing, etc.), communicate and exchange data and information withremote computers and other devices, etc.

The CPU 300 can provide information and instructions to kiosk users viathe display screen 104 and/or an audio system (e.g., a speaker) 304. TheCPU 300 can also receive user inputs via, e.g., a touch screen 308associated with the display screen 104, a keypad with physical keys,and/or a microphone 310. Additionally, the CPU 300 can receive personalidentification and/or biometric information associated with users viathe ID reader 112, one or more of the external cameras 116, and/or thefingerprint reader 114. In some embodiments, the CPU 300 can alsoreceive information (such as user identification and/or accountinformation) via a card reader 312 (e.g., a debit, credit, or loyaltycard reader having, e.g., a suitable magnetic stripe reader, opticalreader, etc.). The CPU 300 can also control operation of the labeldispenser 110 and systems for providing remuneration to users, such asthe cash dispenser 118 and/or a receipt or voucher printer and anassociated dispenser 320.

As noted above, the kiosk 100 additionally includes a number ofelectronic, optical and electromechanical devices for electrically,visually and/or physically analyzing electronic devices placed thereinfor recycling. Such systems can include one more internal cameras 314for visually inspecting electronic devices for, e.g., determiningexternal dimensions and condition, and one or more of the electricalconnectors 242 (e.g., USB connectors) for, e.g., powering up electronicdevices and performing electronic analyses. As noted above, the cameras314 can be operably coupled to the upper and lower chambers 230 and 232,and the connectors 242 can be movably and interchangeably carried by thecarrousel 240 (FIGS. 2A-2D). The kiosk 100 further includes a pluralityof mechanical components that are electronically actuated for carryingout the various functions of the kiosk 100 during operation. Themechanical components 318 can include, for example, the inspection areaaccess door 106 and one or more of the movable components (e.g. theinspection plate 244, the upper and lower chambers 230 and 232, etc.)operably disposed within the inspection area 108 (FIG. 1). The kiosk 100further includes power 302, which can include battery power and/orfacility power for operation of the various electrical componentsassociated with kiosk operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the kiosk 100 further includes a networkconnection 322 (e.g., a wired connection, such as an Ethernet port,cable modem, FireWire cable, Lightning connector, USB port, etc.)suitable for communication with, e.g., all manner of remote processingdevices via a communication link 350, and a wireless transceiver 324(e.g., including a Wi-Fi access point, Bluetooth transceiver, near-fieldcommunication (NFC) device, and/or a wireless modem or cellular radioutilizing GSM, CDMA, 3G, and/or 4G technologies, each of which mayinclude an associated antenna or antennas) for data communicationssuitable for communication with, e.g., all manner of remote processingdevices via the communication link 350 and/or directly via, e.g., awireless peer-to-peer connection. For example, the wireless transceiver324 can facilitate wireless communication with handheld devices, such asa mobile device 330 (e.g., a smartphone) either in the proximity of thekiosk 100 or remote therefrom. By way of example only, in theillustrated embodiment the mobile device 330 can include one or morefeatures, applications and/or other elements commonly found insmartphones and other known mobile devices. For example, the mobiledevice 330 can include a CPU and/or a graphics processing unit (GPU) 334for executing computer readable instructions stored on memory 336. Inaddition, the mobile device 330 can include an internal power source orbattery 332, a dock connector 346, a USB port 348, a camera 340, and/orwell-known input devices, including, for example, a touch screen 342, akeypad, etc. In many embodiments, the mobile device 330 can also includea speaker 344 for two-way communication and audio playback. In additionto the foregoing features, the mobile device 330 can include a mobileoperating system (OS) 331 and/or a device wireless transceiver that mayinclude one or more antennas 338 for wirelessly communicating with, forexample, other mobile devices, websites, and the kiosk 100. Suchcommunication can be performed via, e.g., the communication link 350(which can include the Internet, a public or private intranet, a localor extended Wi-Fi network, cell towers, the plain old telephone system(POTS), etc.), direct wireless communication, etc.

Unless described otherwise, the construction and operation of thevarious components shown in FIG. 3 are of conventional design. As aresult, such components need not be described in further detail herein,as they will be readily understood by those skilled in the relevant art.In other embodiments, the kiosk 100 and/or the mobile device 330 caninclude other features that may be different from those described above.In still further embodiments, the kiosk 100 and/or the mobile device 330can include more or fewer features similar to those described above.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a suitable network environment forimplementing various aspects of an electronic device recycling system400 configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of the kiosks 100 (identifiedindividually as kiosks 100 a-100 n) can exchange information with one ormore remote computers (e.g., one or more server computers 404) via thecommunication link 350. Although the communication link 350 can includea publically available network (e.g., the Internet with a webinterface), a private communication link, such as an intranet or othernetwork can also be used. Moreover, in various embodiments theindividual kiosk 100 can be connected to a host computer (not shown)that facilitates the exchange of information between the kiosks 100 andremote computers, other kiosks, mobile devices, etc.

The server computer 404 can perform many or all of the functions forreceiving, routing and storing of electronic messages, such as webpages,audio signals and electronic images necessary to implement the variouselectronic transactions described herein. For example, the servercomputer 404 can retrieve and exchange web pages and other content withan associated database or databases 406. In some embodiments, thedatabase 406 can include information related to mobile phones and/orother consumer electronic devices. Such information can include, forexample, make, model, serial number, International Mobile EquipmentIdentity (IMEI) number, carrier plan information, pricing information,owner information, etc. In various embodiments the server computer 404can also include a server engine 408, a web page management component410, a content management component 412, and a database managementcomponent 414. The server engine 408 can perform the basic processingand operating system level tasks associated with the varioustechnologies described herein. The webpage management component 410 canhandle creation and/or display and/or routing of web or other displaypages. The content management component 412 can handle many of thefunctions associated with the routines described herein. The databasemanagement component 414 can perform various storage, retrieval andquery tasks associated with the database 406, and can store variousinformation and data such as animation, graphics, visual and audiosignals, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the kiosks 100 can also be operablyconnected to a plurality of other remote devices and systems via thecommunication link 350. For example, the kiosks 100 can be operablyconnected to a plurality of user devices 418 (e.g., personal computers,laptops, handheld devices, etc.) having associated browsers 420.Similarly, as described above the kiosks 100 can each include wirelesscommunication facilities for exchanging digital information with mobiledevices, such as the mobile device 330. The kiosks 100 and/or the servercomputer 404 are also operably connectable to a series of remotecomputers for obtaining data and/or exchanging information withnecessary service providers, financial institutions, devicemanufactures, authorities, government agencies, etc. For example, thekiosks 100 and the server computer 404 can be operably connected to oneor more cell carriers 422, one or more device manufacturers 424 (e.g.,mobile phone manufacturers), one or more electronic payment or financialinstitutions 428, one or more databases (e.g., the GSMA IMEI Database,etc.), and one or more computers and/or other remotely located or sharedresources associated with cloud computing 426. The financialinstitutions 428 can include all manner of entity associated withconducting financial transactions, including banks, credit/debit cardfacilities, online commerce facilities, online payment systems, virtualcash systems, money transfer systems, etc.

In addition to the foregoing, the kiosks 100 and the server computer 404can also be operably connected to a resale marketplace 430 and a kioskoperator 432. The resale marketplace 430 represents a system of remotecomputers and/or services providers associated with the reselling ofconsumer electronic devices through both electronic and brick and mortarchannels. Such entities and facilities can be associated with, forexample, online auctions for reselling used electronic devices as wellas for establishing market prices for such devices. The kiosk operator432 can be a central computer or system of computers for controlling allmanner of operation of the network of kiosks 100. Such operations caninclude, for example, remote monitoring and facilitating of kioskmaintenance (e.g., remote testing of kiosk functionality, downloadingoperational software and updates, etc.), servicing (e.g., periodicreplenishing of cash and other consumables), performance, etc. Inaddition, the kiosk operator 432 can further include one or more displayscreens operably connected to cameras located at each of the kiosks 100(e.g., one or more of the cameras 116 described above with reference toFIG. 1). This remote viewing capability enables operator personnel toverify user identification and/or make other visual observations at thekiosks 100 in real-time during transactions, as described above withreference to FIG. 1.

The foregoing description of the electronic device recycling system 400illustrates but one possible network system suitable for implementingthe various technologies described herein. Accordingly, those ofordinary skill in the art with appreciate that other systems consistentwith the present technology can omit one or more of the facilitiesdescribed in reference to FIG. 4, or can include one or more additionalfacilities not described in detail in FIG. 4.

The kiosks 100, mobile devices 330, server computers 404, user computersor devices 418, etc. can include one or more central processing units orother logic-processing circuitry, memory, input devices (e.g., keyboardsand pointing devices), output devices (e.g., display devices andprinters), and storage devices (e.g., magnetic, solid state, fixed andfloppy disk drives, optical disk drives, etc.). Such computers caninclude other program modules such as an operating system, one or moreapplication programs (e.g., word processing or spreadsheetapplications), and the like. The computers can include wirelesscomputers, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA's),palm-top computers, etc., which communicate with the Internet via awireless link. The computers may be general-purpose devices that can beprogrammed to run various types of applications, or they may besingle-purpose devices optimized or limited to a particular function orclass of functions. Aspects of the invention may be practiced in avariety of other computing environments.

While the Internet is shown, a private network, such as an intranet canlikewise be used herein. The network can have a client-serverarchitecture, in which a computer is dedicated to serving other clientcomputers, or it can have other architectures such as peer-to-peer, inwhich one or more computers serve simultaneously as servers and clients.A database or databases, coupled to the server computer(s), stores muchof the web pages and content exchanged between the user computers. Theserver computer(s), including the database(s), can employ securitymeasures to inhibit malicious attacks on the system, and to preserveintegrity of the messages and data stored therein (e.g., firewallsystems, message encryption and/or authentication (e.g., using transportlayer security (TLS) or secure sockets layer (SSL)), password protectionschemes, encryption of stored data (e.g., using trusted computinghardware), and the like).

One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the concepts of theinvention can be used in various environments other than location basedor the Internet. In general, a display description can be in HTML, XMLor WAP format, email format or any other format suitable for displayinginformation (including character/code-based formats, algorithm-basedformats (e.g., vector generated), and bitmapped formats). Also, variouscommunication channels, such as local area networks, wide area networks,or point-to-point dial-up connections, can be used instead of theInternet. The system can be conducted within a single computerenvironment, rather than a client/server environment. Also, the usercomputers can comprise any combination of hardware or software thatinteracts with the server computer, such as television-based systems andvarious other consumer products through which commercial ornoncommercial transactions can be conducted. The various aspects of theinvention described herein can be implemented in or for any e-mailenvironment.

Although not required, aspects of the invention are described in thegeneral context of computer-executable instructions, such as routinesexecuted by a general-purpose data processing device, e.g., a servercomputer, wireless device or personal computer. Those skilled in therelevant art will appreciate that aspects of the invention can bepracticed with other communications, data processing, or computer systemconfigurations, including: Internet appliances, hand-held devices(including personal digital assistants (PDAs)), wearable computers, allmanner of cellular or mobile phones (including Voice over IP (VoIP)phones), dumb terminals, media players, gaming devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,set-top boxes, network PCs, mini-computers, mainframe computers, and thelike. Indeed, the terms “computer,” “server,” “host,” “host system,” andthe like are generally used interchangeably herein, and refer to any ofthe above devices and systems, as well as any data processor.

Aspects of the invention can be embodied in a special purpose computeror data processor that is specifically programmed, configured, orconstructed to perform one or more of the computer-executableinstructions explained in detail herein. While aspects of the invention,such as certain functions, are described as being performed exclusivelyon a single device, the invention can also be practiced in distributedenvironments where functions or modules are shared among disparateprocessing devices, which are linked through a communications network,such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or theInternet. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Aspects of the invention can be stored or distributed on tangiblecomputer-readable media, including magnetically or optically readablecomputer discs, hard-wired or preprogrammed chips (e.g., EEPROMsemiconductor chips), nanotechnology memory, biological memory, or otherdata storage media. The data storage devices can include any type ofcomputer-readable media that can store data accessible by a computer,such as magnetic hard and floppy disk drives, optical disk drives,magnetic cassettes, tape drives, flash memory cards, DVDs, Bernoullicartridges, RAM, ROMs, smart cards, etc. Indeed, any medium for storingor transmitting computer-readable instructions and data may be employed,including a connection port to a network such as a LAN, WAN, or theInternet. Alternatively, computer implemented instructions, datastructures, screen displays, and other data under aspects of theinvention can be distributed over the Internet or over other networks(including wireless networks), on a propagated signal on a propagationmedium (e.g., an electromagnetic wave(s), a sound wave, etc.) over aperiod of time, or they can be provided on any analog or digital network(packet switched, circuit switched, or other scheme). The terms “memory”and “computer-readable storage medium” include any combination oftemporary, persistent, and/or permanent storage, e.g., ROM, writablememory such as RAM, writable non-volatile memory such as flash memory,hard drives, solid state drives, removable media, and so forth, but donot include a propagating signal per se.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a routine 500 for wirelessly receivinginformation from an electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone) inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology. FIG. 5 and theflow diagrams that follow are representative and may not show allfunctions or exchanges of data, but instead they provide anunderstanding of commands and data exchanged under the system. Thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize that some functions orexchange of commands and data may be repeated, varied, omitted, orsupplemented, and other (less important) aspects not shown may bereadily implemented. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that theblocks shown in FIG. 5 and in each of the flow diagrams discussed belowmay be altered in a variety of ways. For example, while processes orblocks are presented in a given order, alternative implementations mayperform routines in a different order, and some processes or blocks maybe rearranged, deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/ormodified to provide alternative or sub-combinations. Each of theseprocesses or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways.Also, although processes or blocks are at times shown as being performedin series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed orimplemented in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Some ofthe blocks depicted in FIG. 5 and the other flow diagrams are of a typewell known in the art, and can themselves include a sequence ofoperations that need not be described herein. Those of ordinary skill inthe art can create source code, microcode, program logic arrays orotherwise implement the invention based on the flow diagrams and thedetailed description provided herein.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the routine 500and other functions and methods described herein can be implemented asan application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), by a digital signalprocessing (DSP) integrated circuit, through conventional programmedlogic arrays and/or circuit elements. While many of the embodiments areshown and described as being implemented in hardware (e.g., one or moreintegrated circuits designed specifically for a task), such embodimentscould equally be implemented in software and be performed by one or moreprocessors. Such software can be stored on any suitablecomputer-readable medium, such as microcode stored in a semiconductorchip, on a computer-readable disk, or downloaded from a server andstored locally at a client.

In various embodiments, all or a portion of the routine 500 and theroutines in the other flow diagrams herein can be implemented by meansof a consumer operating one or more of the devices and systems describedabove. For example, the kiosk 100 can perform the processes or blocks ofthe routine 500 and other routines disclosed herein. In some embodimentsof the present technology, portions (e.g., blocks) of a routine can beperformed by a plurality of the kiosks 100 a-100 n of FIG. 4, and/or byone or more remote computers. For example, such remote computers caninclude one or more of the server computers 404 of FIG. 4 and/orcomputing resources associated with the cloud 426, the resalemarketplace 430, and/or the kiosk operator 432 operating separately orin combination. The kiosk 100 and/or the remote computers can performthe routines described herein using one or more local and/or remotedatabases (e.g., the database 406 of FIG. 4, such as the GSMA IMEIDatabase). Accordingly, the description of the routine 500 and the otherroutines disclosed herein may refer interchangeably to the routineperforming an operation and/or the kiosk performing the operation, withthe understanding that any of the above devices, systems, and resourcescan perform all or part of the operation.

In block 502, the routine 500 begins when a consumer-operated kiosk(e.g., the kiosk 100 of FIG. 1) detects a device (e.g., the device 330of FIG. 3, such as a mobile phone) that the user 101 has brought to thekiosk 100. In some embodiments, detecting the device 330 can includedetecting wireless signals emitted by the device 330 in the vicinity ofthe kiosk 100, as discussed in greater detail below with reference toFIGS. 20 and 22. In other embodiments, detecting the device 330 caninclude receiving user input indicating the presence of the device 330at the kiosk 100. Examples of such user input include, for example, agesture or finger press on the kiosk's touchscreen 308 indicating thatthe user has brought the wireless device 330 to the kiosk 100, a buttonpress, or a user's verbal indication received by the kiosk microphone310. In other embodiments, detecting the device 330 can include usingother sensors (e.g., a camera such as the external cameras 116 or theinternal cameras 314, a scale such as the weight scale in the inspectionarea 108, etc.) to detect or identify the device 330.

In block 504, the kiosk 100 establishes a wireless link with the device330. For example, the kiosk 100 can provide a wireless network orpeer-to-peer connection for communication with the device 330. Invarious embodiments, the wireless link includes a radio link (e.g.,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC), an optical link (e.g., IrDA, laser, orscreen-based), and/or an audio link (e.g., high-frequency or ultrasound)for data transfer. In some embodiments, establishing the wireless linkcan include providing instructions to the user via, for example, textualand/or graphical instructions or video guidance shown on the displayscreen 104 of the kiosk 100 or on the screen 342 of the device 330,steps listed on a sign affixed to the kiosk housing 102, and/or audioinstructions played through the kiosk speaker 304 or the device speaker344. The instructions can include, for example, a code or otheridentifier to facilitate linking of the device 330 with the kiosk 100.Establishing the wireless link can also include receiving user input orconfirmation at the kiosk 100 or at the device 330. For example, to paira Bluetooth-enabled device 330 with a kiosk Bluetooth connection, thekiosk 100 can direct the user to perform one or more steps such asactivating the device's Bluetooth radio, making the device discoverable,selecting the kiosk 100 (with the user interface of the device 330) orselecting the device 330 (with the user interface of the kiosk 100),initiating a pairing process, entering a confirmation passcode on thedevice 330 and/or at the kiosk 100, and/or confirming that theconnection should be allowed. As another example, the kiosk 100 canprovide a Wi-Fi network. Allowing the device 330 to join the Wi-Finetwork can include directing the user to activate a Wi-Fi radio on thedevice 330, select a designated network, input a particular password,agree to presented login terms, etc. Establishing the wireless link canalso include requiring other user actions, such as swiping anNFC-enabled device against or in close proximity to a kiosk NFC sensor(e.g., within a few inches), or aligning the device's opticaltransceiver with an optical transceiver of the kiosk 100 (e.g., bypointing a laser or an infrared LED or sensor at a designated opticalwindow or device on the kiosk 100, or aiming or placing the device'sscreen 342 against a window or in front of a camera such as the camera116 on the kiosk 100).

In block 506, the routine 500 receives information from the device 330via the wireless link, such as information necessary to identify and/orevaluate the device 330. Such information can include, for example, aunique IMEI number (or MEID or equivalent number) of a mobile phone; amanufacturer name or ID code; a model number; a serial number; a uniquehardware address or any other identifying code or information.Identifying the device 330 based on the information can includedetermining the make, model, submodel, storage capacity, color, carrier,and/or radio bands of the device 330, and so on. In various embodiments,the kiosk 100 processes the information to determine whether the device330 is acceptable for processing (e.g., for purchase and/or recycling).If so, the kiosk 100 can offer the user a price for the device 330; ifthe user accepts the offer and completes the transaction, then theroutine 500 receives the device 330 in block 508 (e.g., in thecollection bin 234 of FIGS. 2A-2D). After receiving the device 330, theroutine 500 ends.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a routine 600 for wirelessly connecting thekiosk 100 to the device 330 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology. In the illustrated routine 600, the kiosk 100provides a radio link, although other types of wireless connections arecontemplated as described above with reference to block 504 of FIG. 5.In block 602, the kiosk 100 activates a wireless radio transceiver suchas the transceiver 324 of FIG. 3. For example, in some embodiments, thekiosk 100 turns on a Wi-Fi infrastructure mode access point or ad hocnetwork node. In some embodiments, activating a wireless radio caninclude making the transceiver's connection available or visible todevices 330 within range of the kiosk's wireless signal, whether or notthe transceiver 324 was already powered (e.g., making the kiosk'sBluetooth device discoverable, or broadcasting the kiosk Wi-Fi basestation's service set identifier (SSID) to make it more easilydetectable by other devices).

In some embodiments, the range of the activated wireless radio can beconfigured by adjusting the power provided to the kiosk transceiver 324,the type, location, directionality, and/or gain of the antenna orantennas used, the wireless radio frequency band, the type of wirelessconnection provided, and/or the kiosk's location (taking into accountenvironmental influences such as interference from other wirelessdevices, obstacles around the kiosk 100, and/or whether the kiosk 100 islocated indoors or outdoors), among other factors. For example, an IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi transmitter using a 5 or 9 dBi gainomnidirectional or directional antenna or antenna array (e.g.,multiple-input and multiple-output (“MIMO”) antennas), broadcasting with500 mW or 750 mW transmit power in a low-interference channel in the 2.4or 5 GHz band, may achieve an outdoor range of up to 100-250 meters. Onthe other hand, a class 2 IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth transmitter with a 2.5mW (or 4 dBm) maximum output power in the 2.4 GHz band may have amaximum range of 10 meters. The effective range of the kiosk's wirelessconnection may depend on the transmitting power and/or the receivingsensitivity of the kiosk wireless transceiver 324, as well as on thetransmitting power and/or receiving sensitivity of each device wirelesstransceiver.

In block 604, the kiosk 100 receives data indicating that a wirelessdevice such as the wireless device 330 is within communication range ofthe kiosk's radio. For example, the kiosk wireless transceiver 324 candetect the wireless device's radio signals, such as signalscorresponding to a request to wirelessly connect to the kiosk 100. Insome embodiments, the signals include an indication provided by a userthat the wireless device 330 is present. In some embodiments, the kioskdetects signals indicating that the wireless device 330 is in thevicinity of the kiosk 100, as described below with reference to FIG. 20.In decision block 606, the routine 600 checks whether the device 330 isconnected to the kiosk 100. If the wireless device 330 is not connectedto the kiosk 100, then in block 608, the kiosk 100 establishes aconnection with the device 330. In some embodiments, establishing theconnection can include providing instructions and/or authenticationinformation for the user to enter on the device 330 and/or on the kiosk100. For example, the routine 600 can direct the user to make the user'sBluetooth device 330 discoverable, and/or can provide a Bluetoothpairing code that the user can type on the keyboard or screen 342 of thedevice 330 or on the touchscreen 308 of the kiosk 100. As anotherexample, the routine 600 can provide a Wi-Fi network name and/orpassword that when selected and/or entered on the user's device 330enables the user to wirelessly connect the user's device 330 to theindicated Wi-Fi network. In other embodiments, establishing theconnection can include providing a visual code or image (e.g., a QRcode) for the user to scan using the device 330, such that scanning thecode or image prompts the device 330 to connect to the kiosk's wirelessnetwork (e.g., upon user confirmation). In some embodiments,establishing the connection can include allowing a particular wirelessdevice to join or use the wireless network or make a wirelessconnection. For example, when the kiosk 100 detects the device 330 anddetermines that the device 330 is registered for access to the kiosk 100or otherwise recognized, the kiosk 100 connects to the device 330without requiring further user authentication. After the device 330 andthe kiosk 100 are connected, the routine 600 ends.

FIG. 7 is a display diagram 700 illustrating a screen display orgraphical user interface (GUI) that graphically and textually providesinstructions for wirelessly connecting the device 330 to the kiosk 100in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. In someembodiments, the kiosk 100 displays the illustrated textual instructionsand accompanying graphical diagrams on the display screen 104. The kiosk100 can display instructions including animated graphics or text,photographs, and/or video guidance. In some embodiments, the kiosk 100updates the instructions as the user follows the instructions, forexample, when the kiosk 100 detects that an instruction has beenfollowed. For example, after the kiosk 100 displays an instructiondirecting the user to activate a wireless radio feature of the user'sdevice 330 (e.g., a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth radio), the kiosk 100 may detectthe presence of the activated radio as described below with reference toFIG. 20. After detecting that the user has activated the device 330 asinstructed, the kiosk 100 can display a next instruction until the userhas completed each of the instructions in a set of instructions. Theillustrated example instructions 702 guide the user to activate thedevice's Wi-Fi transceiver, such as by accessing a device settingscontrol panel or application and turning the Wi-Fi feature to an ONposition. For example, the illustrated graphical diagram above theinstructions 702 highlights a control 704 (e.g., a button or a sliderswitch), showing the control 704 in an OFF state that the user can matchto the screen 342 of his or her own device 330, or animating the control704 to show the user how to turn on the device's Wi-Fi (e.g., bypressing a button or swiping a slider switch). The followinginstructions 706 guide the user to connect to a specified network (e.g.,a network named “Kiosk”). For example, the instructions can include anillustration of a control 708 in an ON position showing an activatedWi-Fi feature, and an indication 710 of what the user will see on thedevice's screen 342 once the device 330 has successfully connected tothe “Kiosk” network. In the illustrated embodiment, the instructionscorrespond to options shown on an Apple® iOS® device. In someembodiments, the kiosk 100 is configured to detect or receiveinformation specifying a device type (e.g., the manufacturer, model,and/or operating system 331 of the device 330) and to displayinstructions corresponding to options available on that device type.

The display diagrams in the present disclosure, including displaydiagram 700, illustrate representative computer display screens or webpages that can be implemented in various ways, such as in C++ or as webpages in XML (Extensible Markup Language), HTML (HyperText MarkupLanguage), the Wireless Access Protocol (WAP), LaTeX or PDF documents,or any other scripts or methods of creating displayable data, such astext, images, animations, video and audio, etc. The screens or web pagesprovide facilities to present information and receive input data, suchas a form or page with fields to be filled in, pull-down menus orentries allowing one or more of several options to be selected, buttons,sliders, hypertext links or other known user interface tools forreceiving user input. While certain ways of displaying information tousers are shown and described with respect to certain Figures, thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize that various otheralternatives may be employed. The terms “screen,” “web page” and “page”are generally used interchangeably herein.

When implemented as web pages, for example, the screens are stored asdisplay descriptions, graphical user interfaces, or other methods ofdepicting information on a computer screen (e.g., commands, links,fonts, colors, layout, sizes and relative positions, and the like),where the layout and information or content to be displayed on the pageis stored in a database typically connected to a server. In general, a“link” refers to any resource locator identifying a resource on anetwork, such as a display description provided by an organizationhaving a site or node on the network. A “display description,” asgenerally used herein, refers to any method of automatically displayinginformation on a computer screen in any of the above-noted formats, aswell as other formats, such as email or character/code-based formats,algorithm-based formats (e.g., vector generated), matrix or bit-mappedformats, animated or video formats, etc. While aspects of the inventionare described herein using a networked environment, some or all featurescan be implemented within a single-computer environment.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a routine 800 for loading software on adevice, such as a mobile phone, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology. In various embodiments, the present technologyoperates in conjunction with software associated with a device (e.g.,the device 330). For example, the user can download an app from thekiosk 100 or the kiosk operator 432 to the device 330 (e.g., a mobilephone, tablet, or other computing device) to obtain a valuation of thedevice 330 and/or to obtain remuneration and/or other benefits offeredfor bringing the device 330 to the kiosk 100 with the app installed.Once installed, the app can, for example, obtain information about thedevice 330, transmit the information about the device to a servercomputer 404 or database 406, and use the information to make the useran offer to purchase the device 330 at a kiosk 100. In addition, the appcan interact with the kiosk 100 to help the kiosk 100 identify,recognize, and/or evaluate the device 330 more quickly. For example, theapp can obtain information from or about the device and transmit thatinformation to the kiosk 100, and/or identify a known or alreadyevaluated device to the kiosk 100 (including an evaluation performed bythe app and/or an evaluation performed by a kiosk 100). In block 802,the routine 800 establishes a connection between the device 330 and thekiosk 100. In some embodiments, for example, the connection can beestablished as described above with reference to block 608 of FIG. 6. Indecision block 804, the routine 800 checks whether a designated softwareapp is loaded on the device. For example, the kiosk 100 can ask the userwhether the app is installed, direct the user to activate the app if itis installed, and/or request user confirmation of activation of the app.The kiosk 100 can instruct the user to scan a code (e.g., a QR code, abarcode, etc.) displayed by the display screen 104 that causes thedevice 330 to invoke the app if present on the device. In someembodiments, an app can include software or other logic not directlyinstalled on the device, such as scripts, services, permissions, and/orinterfaces that allow interaction between the device owner, the device,a kiosk 100, and/or one or more remote computing facilities (e.g., theserver computer 404). In some embodiments, checking whether an app isloaded on the device can include querying the device (for example,obtaining a list of apps on the device, or sending a notification orother data to be handled by a targeted app if present), and/or queryinga local or remote database (e.g., database 406) that includes a list ofdevices upon which the app has been installed. If a specified app is notloaded on the device, then in block 806, the routine 800 loads the appon the device, as described below with reference to FIG. 9. Conversely,if the app is loaded on the device, the routine 800 ends.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a routine 900 for initiating a softwaredownload in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Inblock 902, the routine 900 receives a request for a specified app to beloaded to a device, for example, a device for recycling such as thedevice 330. For example, the kiosk display screen 104 can display anoption to initiate an app download and enable the user to select theoption by, for example, touching a virtual button on the touch screen308 or a physical button on the kiosk cabinet 102. In block 904, theroutine 900 provides network access for the device 330, enabling thedevice 330 to download the desired app. In some embodiments, the kiosk100 provides network access in direct response to a request received bythe kiosk 100 through user interaction with the kiosk's touchscreen 308or a verbal request detected by the kiosk 100 through the microphone310. In block 906, the routine 900 automatically initiates an appdownload to the device 330 or prompts the user to download the app tothe device 330 using the provided network access. In some embodiments,the routine 900 directs the device 330 to a download page for the app,for example, presenting a Wi-Fi login page with a direct link to theapp. In some embodiments, the routine 900 provides a link to initiate adownload, such as by displaying on the display screen 104 a QR code orother code that the device 330 can scan. When the device 330 scans thecode, the device 330 decodes the link, either automatically followingthe link or enabling the user to follow the link. The link can directthe device's browser (e.g., a user computer browser 420) to a web pagefrom which the app can be downloaded, can invoke an app managementprogram that enables the user to agree to the app install, or can promptthe device 330 to load an installer application or the desired softwaredirectly to the device 330. After the routine 900 assists the user toobtain the app, the routine 900 ends.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a routine 1000 for wirelessly receivinginformation from the device 330 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology. In block 1002, the kiosk 100 receives an indicationthat the device 330 is in proximity to the kiosk 100 (e.g., withinwireless range of one of the kiosks 100 a-100 n of FIG. 4). In someembodiments, the routine 1000 receives an indication that the device 330has an app installed. For example, receiving the indication can includereceiving a known wireless identifier of the device 330 at the kiosk 100after the app has identified and transmitted or saved one or morewireless identifiers for the device 330, such as a Wi-Fi interface mediaaccess control address (MAC address). In some embodiments, receiving theindication can include receiving user input at the kiosk 100 (e.g., viathe touch screen 308 or other input devices of the kiosk 100 describedabove with reference to FIG. 1), such as user confirmation that the appis installed on the device 330, or user entry of a code associated withthe user and/or one or more of the user's device(s) 330. In someembodiments, receiving the indication can include receiving a reportfrom the app (e.g., while the app is running on the device 330) that thelocation of the device 330 is in the range of a wireless radio of thekiosk 100, as described above with reference to FIG. 6. In someembodiments, receiving the indication can include receiving atransmission at the kiosk 100 from the device 330 upon which the app isinstalled and active.

In block 1004, the routine 1000 enables the device 330 to wirelesslyconnect to the kiosk 100, for example, by the methods described abovewith reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In block 1006, the kiosk 100 receivesinformation from and/or about the device 330 via the wirelessconnection. The information can include, for example, the device's MACaddress, IMEI number, electronic serial number (ESN), Integrated CircuitCard Identifier (ICCID), make and model, storage capacity, radio bands(e.g., frequency ranges and encoding such as CDMA, GSM, LTE, etc.),charge state, etc. In some embodiments, the kiosk 100 receivesinformation including a code for recognizing the device 330 and/or thedevice's owner (e.g., the user 101). For example, as discussed belowwith reference to FIG. 11, the user may have downloaded the app on thedevice 330 and used the app to transmit the information about the device330 to the kiosk 100 and/or the server computers 404 (FIG. 4) or otheraspects of the present technology before arriving at the kiosk 100. Thenby receiving a code from the device 330, the kiosk 100 can associate thedevice 330 with the previously received information that the usersubmitted via the app.

In decision block 1008, the routine 1000 determines whether theinformation is sufficient for evaluating the device 330. Thedetermination can include, for example, whether the information issufficient to determine a price to offer for the device 330 orsufficient to identify the presence or confirm the absence of issuesaffecting the device's operation, value, or ability to be resold. If theroutine 1000 determines that the information is not sufficient, then inblock 1010 the routine 1000 prompts the user for an alternative methodof receiving the necessary information from the device 330. In someembodiments, alternative methods include physically connecting thedevice 330 to the kiosk 100 via a wired electrical connection, such asone of the electrical connectors 242 of FIG. 2. In block 1012, the kiosk100 receives the necessary information from the device 330 via such analternative method. Conversely, if the routine 1000 at block 1008determines that the wirelessly received information is sufficient, thenin block 1014 the routine 1000 continues to process the device 330, forexample, proceeding to evaluate the physical and/or electrical conditionof the device 330 and/or offering to purchase the device 330.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram of a routine 1100 for enabling aknown electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone, such as the device 330)to automatically connect to a kiosk-provided wireless network inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology, so that when theuser brings the device 330 to the kiosk 100 the device 330 can exchangedata with the kiosk 100, access servers of the device's manufacturer424, download data from a website (e.g., a website associated with thekiosk operator 432), etc. The user can register the device 330 (e.g.,through a software app) so that the kiosk 100 can recognize the device330, and the kiosk 100 automatically provides registered devices 330 awireless connection to the kiosk 100 and/or to various remote resourcesassociated with selling and/or recycling the device 330. Byautomatically offering a wireless network connection to a known device330, the kiosk 100 enables the user to prepare the device 330 for saleand/or complete a partially completed sale at the kiosk 100, minimizingpotential roadblocks and speeding the sale process. For example, byautomatically providing wireless access to remote servers (e.g., to theserver computers 404, the manufacturer servers 424, the carrier servers422, etc.) the kiosk 100 can facilitate the resolution of issues thatmight otherwise prevent sale of the device 330, as described below withreference to FIGS. 13-19.

In block 1102, the routine 1100 determines that the device 330 is withina certain distance of the kiosk 100 (e.g., corresponding to a wirelessconnection range of the kiosk 100). For example, the routine 1100 candetermine the presence of the device 330 by: detecting the device'sradio as described below with reference to FIG. 20; receiving aconnection request from the device 330 such as an attempt to join thekiosk's Wi-Fi network; or receiving user input, for example, via thetouchscreen 308 of the kiosk 100, indicating that the user has broughtthe device 330 to the kiosk 100. In block 1104, the kiosk 100 recognizesthat the device 330 near the kiosk 100 is a registered device. Aregistered device is a device 330 that the system recognizes, forexample, from the user previously submitting device 330 data through theapp or performing an evaluation of the device 330 at the kiosk 100. Forexample, when the user installs the app on the device 330, the app canrecord and transmit one or more identifiers for the device 330 to aremote server 404 and/or database 406. The identifiers can include, forexample, a unique wireless identifier of the device 330 such as a Wi-Fiinterface media access control address (MAC address). The routine 1100registers the device 330 by, for example, saving one or more of theidentifiers (or, e.g., a derived code such as a unique hash based on theidentifiers) in a registry. The routine 1100 can store some or all ofthe registry in one or more local or remote databases (e.g., thedatabase 406). For example, the registration process 1100 can includeproviding the identifiers to the kiosk 100 (e.g., to one or more of thekiosks in a network of connected kiosks such as kiosks 100 a-100 n). Insome embodiments, the routine 1100 sends only a portion of the registryto a particular kiosk 100 a, such as information about registereddevices 330 in the same geographic area as the kiosk 100 a (e.g., withinthe same city or state), reducing the volume of data transmitted to thekiosk 100 a.

Once a device is registered, the kiosk 100 can recognize the device 330(e.g., whether or not the app remains installed). Recognizing that thedevice 330 at the kiosk 100 is a registered device can include, forexample, receiving one or more of the identifiers from the device 330,and querying the registry (e.g., a local or remote database thatincludes all or a portion of a list of unique identifiers or derivedcodes) to check whether the device 330 is in the list of registereddevices. In block 1106, the routine 1100 permits the registered deviceto automatically connect to the wireless network provided by the kiosk100 as a recognized, paired, or otherwise accepted or known device 330.For example, a registered Bluetooth device 330 can automatically pairwith a Bluetooth-enabled kiosk 100, and a registered Wi-Fi device 330can automatically join a Wi-Fi network of the kiosk 100 withoutrequiring the user to enter login credentials. In some embodiments, thekiosk 100 limits the ability of a device 330 to use the wireless networkas described below with reference to FIG. 19, and/or cancels anautomatic network connection, for example, if the user does not initiatea transaction at the kiosk 100 (e.g., if the user is a phone hawkerattempting to compete with the kiosk).

In some embodiments, the automatic network connection directly providesfor a quick and easy device purchase process. For example, after theuser downloads the app on the device 330, the system registers thedevice 330 for future recognition, as described above with reference toblock 1104. The user may download and run the app on the device 330using a communication link other than the wireless connection providedby the kiosk 100 and without needing to be near the kiosk 100 whendownloading and running the app. For example, the device 330 can use awired or wireless Internet connection at a remote location to obtain theapp from a website (e.g., a website associated with the kiosk operator432), from a software repository run by the device manufacturer 424 or athird party (e.g., the Apple® App Store℠, Google Play™ Store, Amazon®Appstore™, and so on), etc. The device 330 can use such availablecommunication links to remotely obtain the app and for the app toremotely communicate with the kiosk 100 and/or other aspects of thepresent technology. The user can thus use the app to submit informationabout the device 330 (e.g., registering the device 330) and obtain anestimated price quote for the device 330 through the app. In someembodiments of the present technology, the estimated price includes arange of prices that the kiosk 100 may offer for the device 330, and/oris contingent on an evaluation of the device 330 at the kiosk 100 toconfirm the device's electrical and/or physical condition. The user canthen bring the device 330 to the kiosk 100, which recognizes the device330 and allows the device 330 to automatically wirelessly connect to thekiosk 100. The kiosk 100 receives information about the device 330 viathe wireless connection to evaluate the device 330 as described abovewith reference to FIG. 10. The kiosk 100 also retrieves the informationsubmitted via the app and the estimated price of the device 330 that wasprovided to the user through the app. The kiosk 100 compares thewirelessly received information with the app-submitted information toconfirm the identity of the device 330 and/or to verify that thecondition of the device 330 has not changed. The kiosk 100 can thenprocess the device 330, such as by receiving the device 330, performinga visual inspection as described above with respect to FIG. 2B,determining and offering a price for the device, and concluding thewireless purchase transaction.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a routine 1200 for inducing a notificationon the device 330 in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. It may be useful in some embodiments to wirelessly send anotification to the user of a known device 330; for example, to notifythe user that the value of the user's device 330 has changed or isexpected to change, to alert the user that the kiosk 100 is nearby andavailable, and/or to offer a coupon or special deal to the user, etc. Inblock 1202, the routine 1200 determines that the device 330 (e.g., aregistered device or a device with an app installed) is near the kiosk100. Examples of such determining are described above with reference toblock 1002 of FIG. 10 and blocks 1102 and 1104 of FIG. 11. In block1204, the routine 1200 wirelessly connects to the device 330. Forexample, if the device 330 is a registered device, the kiosk 100 canautomatically wirelessly connect to the device 330 as described abovewith reference to block 1106 of FIG. 11. In block 1206, the routine 1200induces a notification on the device 330, for example, sending a messageto the device 330 or triggering the app to cause the device 330 todisplay a message on the display 342 that can inform the user that, forexample, the user can sell the device at a predetermined price if he orshe brings the device to the kiosk 100. The notification can inform theuser where the kiosk 100 is located and/or provide directions from theuser's location to the kiosk 100. As an example, if the user has checkedthe price of the device 330 (e.g., within a preset period of time beforethe device 330 is detected near the kiosk 100), the routine 1200 cannotify the user that the user can complete the contemplated sale of thedevice 330 for the price at the nearby kiosk 100. By using the kiosk'swireless connection to induce a notification, the system ensures thatthe user is within the vicinity of the kiosk 100, enabling the user tocomplete the sale of his or her device 330 without needing to travelfar. In addition, the localized notification enables the system toprovide location-specific incentives, such as discounts redeemable atmerchants located close to the kiosk 100.

In some embodiments, the user may wish to sell the device 330 at thekiosk 100, but the kiosk 100 or the user may discover an issue thatprevents the sale. For example, it is becoming increasingly common forelectronic devices such as computers, tablets, and mobile phones to beassociated with remote user accounts. Examples of such remote useraccounts include cloud-based services provided by a device manufactureror other third party. When a device is associated with such a remoteuser account, it may be password protected or otherwise locked to thatuser's identity so that the device cannot be reset and used by anotherindividual (e.g., a subsequent purchaser). In addition, a remote useraccount may allow the account owner to remotely lock or disable theassociated device to prevent anyone else from using it (a device “killswitch”). Therefore, a device may not be marketable while the device isassociated with such a remote user account. To sell such a device 330 atthe kiosk 100, the user must first disassociate the device 330 from theremote user account. By providing a wireless network at the kiosk 100,the kiosk 100 allows the user to resolve such issues to allow atransaction to proceed.

FIG. 13, for example, is a flow diagram of a routine 1300 for providingwireless network access to resolve a device issue in accordance withembodiments of the present technology. In block 1302, the routine 1300obtains information about a device, such as the device 330 brought tothe kiosk 100 by a user who wishes to sell the device 330 for recycling.Obtaining information about the device 330 can include, for example,receiving user input describing the device 330, performing visualevaluation of the device 330 after it has been placed in the kiosk 100,performing optical character recognition (OCR) of information printed onthe device 330 (e.g., the back of the device) or displayed on thedevice's screen 342, performing electrical evaluation of the device 330via a physical connector as described above with respect to FIGS. 2A-2D,and/or querying remote servers (e.g., a stolen phone database). In block1304, the routine 1300 determines based on the information that thedevice 330 is unacceptable unless an issue is resolved. For example, theroutine 1300 may obtain information indicating that the device 330 is ormay be associated with a remote user account that includes a device killswitch, as described below with respect to block 1402 of FIG. 14. Theroutine 1300 may treat a device's association with a remote user accountas an issue that must be resolved before the device is acceptable forprocessing (e.g., purchasing and recycling) at the kiosk 100. Thus, ifthe information indicates that the device 330 is subject to a killswitch, the routine 1300 determines that the device is unacceptablewhile that issue exists.

In block 1306, the routine 1300 provides wireless access to allow theissue to be resolved. For example, in some embodiments, the kiosk 100allows the device 330 to contact a carrier 422 or device manufacturer424 (FIG. 4) via the Internet to let the device owner sign in and turnoff a kill switch feature that could otherwise be used to deactivate thedevice 330 after resale. In block 1307, the routine 1300 lets the userattempt to resolve the issue using the wireless access. In decisionblock 1308, the routine 1300 checks whether the issue is resolved. Insome embodiments, checking for issue resolution can include querying oneor more remote servers (e.g., the device manufacturer servers 424) todetermine whether the determined issue has been resolved. In someembodiments, the checking can include interrogating the device 330 todetermine whether the issue is still present. For example, a device 330that has been locked by a remote user account may reveal that locked-outstate in response to queries via an electronic interface of the device330, and/or may display an indication of its state on the device'sscreen 342 (e.g., a message stating that the device is lost and shouldbe returned to its owner). The routine 1300 may query the device'selectronic interface and/or photograph the device's screen 342 todetermine whether such an issue is present. If the issue is stillpresent after giving the user an opportunity to resolve the issue, thenin block 1310, the routine 1300 declines to further process the device330. On the other hand, if the issue has been resolved, then in block1312, the routine 1300 continues to process the device 330. This caninclude, for example, visual and/or electrical inspection of the device330 to determine or confirm the device's value, making an offer topurchase the device 330, and if the user accepts the offer, completingthe purchase by collecting the device 330 for resale or recycling andproviding the offered value to the user in exchange for the device 330.After blocks 1310 or 1312, the routine 1300 ends.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a routine 1400 for disassociating a devicefrom a remote user account in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. For example, if the remote user account includes a killswitch that is enabled for the device 330, the user must disable it; andif the device 330 is in a factory reset state, the routine 1400 canrequire the user to activate the device 330 to ensure that a kill switchis not enabled for the device 330. In block 1402, the routine 1400obtains information about the device 330, such as information from thedevice 330 or from a remote server having information that pertains tothe device 330. For example, an app can use an operating system 331 APIon the device 330 to determine whether the device 330 is associated witha remote user account. As another example, to determine whether anApple® device 330 is associated with an iCloud® remote user account, thekiosk 100 can query the Apple® device manufacturer servers 424 (e.g.,the Global Service Exchange (GSX) servers at gsx.apple.com). In someembodiments, obtaining the information can include receiving useranswers to questions at the kiosk 100; obtaining information from an appassociated with the device 330; connecting a physical connector to thedevice 330; and/or directing the user to connect the device 330 to awireless network provided by the kiosk 100, or to perform an action thatrequires the device 330 to be unlocked and activated (e.g., displayingthe device's home screen). In decision block 1404, the routine 1400checks whether the device 330 is or might be subject to a remote killswitch. For example, if the information indicates that the device 330 isnot associated with a remote user account, or if the device 330 isassociated only with a remote user account that does not include aremote kill switch feature (e.g., a webmail account that is removed fromthe device 330 by a factory reset of the device 330), then the routine1400 determines that the device 330 is not subject to a remote useraccount kill switch. If no such kill switch is in effect, then in block1406 the routine 1400 proceeds with evaluating, purchasing, andrecycling (e.g., refurbishing and/or reselling) the device 330.

In decision block 1408, the routine 1400 determines whether the device330 must be activated before confirming and/or deactivating the killswitch. For example, if the device 330 appears to have been reset, itmay not be evident whether it is unassociated with any remote useraccount, whether a still-associated user remotely reset the device 330(so that it cannot be reactivated except by that user), or whether aremote user permanently disabled the device 330 (so that it cannot bereactivated by anyone). If the device 330 does not require activation(for example, if the device 330 is in an active, usable state ratherthan in a reset or other locked-out state), then in block 1410 theroutine 1400 prompts the user to disable any device kill switch via awireless network; for example, using a provided wireless Internetconnection as described above with reference to FIG. 13. In decisionblock 1412, the routine 1400 determines whether the remote kill switchhas been disabled. If not (i.e., if the user cannot remove the killswitch feature or is otherwise unable or unwilling to provide the device330 in a freely resalable state), then the device 330 may have little orno resale value, and/or the device 330 may be stolen property, so inblock 1414 the routine 1400 declines to purchase the device 330 bydisplaying an appropriate message to the user, e.g., via the displayscreen 104. Otherwise, if the user successfully unlinks the remote useraccount and its remote kill switch from the device 330, the routine 1400continues in block 1406.

Returning to decision block 1408, if the device 330 does requireactivation (e.g., if it is in a user-wiped or remotely locked state),then in block 1416, the routine 1400 prompts the user to activate thedevice 330 via a wireless network, for example, using a providedwireless Internet connection as described below with reference to FIG.16. For example, the routine 1400 can prompt the user with steps toconnect to the wireless network and/or instructions with steps toactivate the device 330. In decision block 1418, if the user has notactivated the device 330 (for example, if the user cannot provide apassword required to activate the device 330 or is otherwise unable orunwilling to activate it), then in block 1414 the routine 1400 declinesthe device 330. Otherwise, if the user successfully activates the device330, the routine 1400 continues in block 1410 so that any kill switchcan be deactivated.

FIGS. 15A-15B are display diagrams illustrating device screensassociated with disabling a remote account associated with the device330 in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. “Find MyiPhone” is an example of a remote kill switch feature for Apple® iOS®devices that is described herein for illustrative purposes. Referringfirst to FIG. 15A, the display page 1510 illustrates device settings foran Apple® iOS® device 330 including a button or control 1512 for the“Find My iPhone” feature. The control 1512 is illustrated in an ONstate, indicating that the feature is active. As long as the feature isactive, the owner can attempt to locate and/or remotely disable thisdevice 330 if the device 330 were to be lost or stolen. For example, theuser can log into his or her remote user account on icloud.com, selectthe device 330, and press a button to play a sound on the device 330,lock the device 330 and track its movement, or erase the device 330. Toprevent the device 330 sold at the kiosk 100 from being subject to suchactions by the user after the sale, the kiosk 100 requires the user todeactivate the “Find My iPhone” feature. FIG. 15B shows an Apple® iOS®device display page 1520 that requires user authentication on the device330 before the “Find My iPhone” feature can be deactivated. Afterturning the control 1512 to the OFF state, such as by sliding the buttonor control 1512 to the left, the device 330 requires the user to enterthe device owner's account password 1522. Only after the user enters thecorrect credentials can the feature be turned off 1524.

FIGS. 15C-15D are display diagrams illustrating instructions fordisassociating a device 330 from a remote user account in accordancewith embodiments of the present technology. In some embodiments, thekiosk 100 displays the illustrated textual instructions and accompanyinggraphical diagrams on the display screen 104. In FIG. 15C, theillustrated display page 1530 informs the user in explanatory text 1532that the user cannot sell his or her device 330 while its “Find MyiPhone” feature (described herein for illustrative purposes) is turnedon. In addition, the display screen 1530 displays a series of steps 1534for the device's owner to disable the remote kill switch feature. Thosesteps 1534 include a first step of connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Insome embodiments, the kiosk 100 presents instructions that direct theuser to connect to the wireless network provided by the kiosk 100, asdescribed above with reference to block 608 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Inother embodiments, the kiosk 100 automatically wirelessly connects tothe registered device 330 as described above with reference to FIG. 11,and presents instructions based on the device 330 being connected. Insome embodiments, the kiosk 100 provides instructions that arecustomized to the user's device 330 (e.g., with illustrations and/ordirections specific to the device's operating system 331, manufacturer,screen shape, installed software, type of remote user account, etc.) tobetter help the device's owner to disable the remote kill switchfeature. In FIG. 15D, the display page 1540 illustrates a deactivated“Find My iPhone” control 1542 showing how the corresponding control 1512appears in the successfully disabled OFF state. In some embodiments, thekiosk 100 presents the display page 1540 to the user when the kiosk 100declines to purchase the device 330 as described above with reference toblock 1414 of FIG. 14 after the user fails to disassociate the device330 from a remote user account.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a routine 1600 for wirelessly activating adevice in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Inblock 1602, the routine 1600 detects that the device 330 requiresactivation, as described above with reference to blocks 1408 and 1416 ofFIG. 14. For example, if the user wants to be sure that all of his orher personal information has been removed from a device before sellingit, he or she may have erased the device 330 and thereby reset it to astate similar to a factory-new device. On the other hand, a device thatappears simply to have been erased may instead have been remotely wipedand locked after the owner believed it to be stolen or lost—in whichcase activation by a new user may be impossible, or may require theowner's password. To distinguish those possibilities and to ensure thatthe kiosk 100 accepts only an active working device from the owner (aswell as, for example, to install a software app on the device 330), inblock 1604 the kiosk 100 provides and allows the device 330 to connectto a wireless network. Through the wireless network, the kiosk 100provides the device 330 Wi-Fi access to remote activation servers suchas the device manufacturer servers 424 and/or the wireless carrierservers 422 as described above with reference to block 1306 of FIG. 13.For example, if the user cancels cell network service for the device 330and then brings the device 330 to the kiosk 100, the user may not beable to contact the activation servers 422 and/or 424 except through thekiosk's wireless network. In block 1606, the routine 1600 provides stepsto activate the device 330 using the wireless network. For example, thekiosk 100 can display, on the display screen 104, instructionsillustrating device screens (e.g., as described below with reference toFIGS. 17A-17B) and a resultant successfully activated state (e.g., asdescribed below with reference to FIG. 18). In block 1607, the routine1600 lets the user attempt to activate the device using the wirelessnetwork. In decision block 1608, the routine 1600 checks whether thedevice 330 has been successfully activated. If not, then the routine1600 proceeds to decision block 1610. The kiosk 100 can set a thresholdnumber of activation attempts (e.g., 3) to prevent the user frommonopolizing the kiosk 100 with unsuccessful attempts. If the kiosk 100allows the user to retry activation, the routine 1600 returns to block1606. If the user has tried the threshold number of times withoutsuccess, then in block 1612 the routine 1600 cancels the device's accessto the wireless network and the routine 1600 ends. Otherwise, if thedevice 330 has been activated following decision block 1608, then inblock 1614 the kiosk 100 continues to process the device 330 (forexample, to evaluate the device 330, make an offer to the user, andpurchase the device 330), and the routine 1600 ends.

FIGS. 17A-17B are display diagrams illustrating screens associated withactivating a mobile device such as a mobile phone (e.g., the device 330)in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Theillustrated Apple® iPhone® activation screens 1710 and 1720 aredescribed herein for illustrative purposes. In FIG. 17A, the displaypage 1710 includes an “Activation Required” message 1712 indicating thatthe device 330 is in a deactivated state. It also includes a control1714 for unlocking the device 330 or initiating the activation process.The screen 1710 does not indicate whether or not the device 330 isassociated with a remote user account. In FIG. 17B, however, the displaypage 1720 shows a message 1722 that the device 330 was reset inconnection with an owner's remote user account (e.g., by a remote killswitch feature) and indicates that the device 330 cannot be activatedwithout entering the owner's account credentials (username 1724 andpassword 1726). In some embodiments, the kiosk 100 determines that thedevice 330 displaying a screen substantially similar to the display page1720 cannot be accepted for purchase. The kiosk 100 determines that thedevice 330 is unacceptable by, for example, optically scanning thescreen 342 (e.g., using the external cameras 116 or the internal cameras314) or by requesting and receiving user confirmation of the contentdisplayed on the screen 342. In some embodiments, the kiosk 100 canutilize OCR techniques to convert portions of the display page 1720 totext. The kiosk 100 can also utilize OCR to read information, such as anidentifier (e.g., a serial number or IMEI number), printed on the device330 (e.g., on the back of the device) or displayed on the screen 342.The kiosk 100 can compare the information from the device 330 againstinformation in a local and/or remote database (e.g., the database 406 ofFIG. 4) and/or query a remote server such as a device manufacturerserver 424 to determine whether the device 330 is in an unacceptablestate (e.g., associated with a remote user account or unactivated), asdescribed above with reference to block 1402 of FIG. 14. After such adetermination that the device 330 requires activation, the kiosk 100prompts the user to activate the device 330 by entering the requiredcredentials, as described above with reference to block 1416 of FIG. 14.The kiosk 100 can display a series of instructions for device activationto ensure that the device 330 is not associated with a remote useraccount. FIG. 18, for example, is a display diagram illustrating aninstruction 1800 for activating the device 330 in accordance withembodiments of the present technology. The instructional text 1802indicates that if the device's home screen is visible, then the device330 has been successfully activated.

In various embodiments, it may be useful to limit the use of a wirelessnetwork to allowed purposes rather than providing, for example,unlimited Wi-Fi network access to some or all devices 330 that connectto the kiosk's wireless network. FIG. 19, for example, is a flow diagramof a routine 1900 for filtering wireless communications in accordancewith embodiments of the present technology. In block 1902, the routine1900 determines a purpose for a wireless device connection. For example,as described above, the kiosk's wireless network can be provided forallowing an app download, activating a reset device 330, and/or turningoff a remote kill switch feature, among other purposes. In block 1904,the routine 1900 identifies types of communications associated with thepurpose for the wireless device connection. For example, communicationscan be identified by domain (e.g., apple.com), by individual serveraddress (e.g., gsx.apple.com), by message type (email, secure HTMLGET/POST request and reply, etc.), by specific message formatting, andso on. In block 1906, the routine 1900 receives wireless devicecommunications from and/or to the device 330. In decision block 1908,the routine 1900 determines whether the device communications areallowed, such as by comparing various features of those communicationsto the identified types of communications associated with the purposefor allowing network access. In block 1910, disallowed communicationsare blocked; in some embodiments, the disallowed communications aredropped. In other embodiments, the disallowed communications produce anerror code or message to the user that the kiosk 100 can display on thedisplay screen 104 and/or play through the kiosk speaker 304, or thatthe device 330 can present to the user via the device screen 342 and/orthe device speaker 344. In some embodiments, a user's attempts to usethe wireless network for unpermitted purposes result in the kiosk 100disallowing the device 330 from the wireless network or turning thewireless network off. In block 1912, allowed communications arepermitted. After allowed communications have concluded, the routine 1900ends.

In various embodiments, the present technology can include identifyingwireless devices 330. FIG. 20, for example, is a flow diagram of aroutine 2000 for identifying a wireless device such as a mobile phone,tablet computer, laptop computer, or music player (e.g., the device 330)in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. In block 2002,the routine 2000 detects a wireless device 330 that is not connected tothe kiosk's wireless network. For example, a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devicecan broadcast information according to various low-level protocols foridentifying available networks and devices (for example, IP packets inEthernet frames, which can include probe request and probe responseframes). Wi-Fi client stations (e.g., a device 330) can transmit, onvarious channels, packets searching for access points (e.g., an accesspoint that the client station had previously connected to), and thosetransmissions typically reveal the device's Wi-Fi MAC address. The kiosk100 can detect a wireless device 330 unassociated with the kiosk'swireless network by passive scanning (such as observing wireless datatraffic) and/or active scanning (such as sending wireless data to promptdevices to reply and reveal their presence to the kiosk 100). In block2004, when the kiosk 100 has detected the device 330, the routine 2000observes characteristics of the device 330. Such characteristics caninclude, for example, MAC address information, signal strength, protocolresponse patterns, channels, etc. For example, a MAC address may includenumbers that encode or otherwise indicate a device's manufacturer orother information about the device 330. In block 2006, the routine 2000compares the observed characteristics with stored device signatures,such as information in the database 406. In block 2008, the routine 2000identifies the device 330 based on the comparison. In some embodiments,the routine 2000 can identify the device 330 probabilistically or as oneof a category of devices (e.g., a Samsung phone, or one of a group ofdevices); in some embodiments, the routine 2000 identifies the device330 as a particular device.

FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of a routine 2100 for identifying a connectedwireless device 330 in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. In block 2102, the device 330 is connected to the kiosk'swireless network and the routine 2100 wirelessly receives datatransmitted by the device 330 over the network. The device 330 can sendpackets of data addressed to the kiosk 100, for example, including datadirected to the kiosk 100 and data sent through the kiosk 100 to aremote server (e.g., to the device manufacturer's activation server424). As a result of the device sending and receiving data using thekiosk's wireless network, the kiosk 100 is able to capture and/orinspect the device's data transmissions. In block 2104, the routine 2100inspects the data. The contents of the wireless data transmissions caninclude, for example, a MAC address that indicates the device'smanufacturer, packet header information identifying the type of thedevice 330, and/or packet payload information that reveals the identityof the device 330 (for example, a web page request that includes datatelling the web server what kind of device is making the web pagerequest, so that a properly displayable page is returned to the device330). In block 2106, the routine 2100 identifies the device 330 based onthe data.

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram of a routine 2200 for recording wirelessdevice activity in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. In block 2202, the routine 2200 receives wireless signalsfrom mobile devices 330 (e.g., mobile phones; PDAs; wearable computingdevices such as smartwatches and wireless headsets; tablet, netbook, andlaptop computers; e-readers; music playing devices; etc.) within rangeof the kiosk 100, as described above with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21.In some embodiments, the kiosk 100 receives wireless signals overnetworks having varied ranges, such as the ranges described above withreference to block 602 of FIG. 6. For example, devices 330 detected viaa sensitive Wi-Fi antenna may be at a greater distance from the kiosk100 than devices 330 detected via a Bluetooth, ZigBee, or NFC antennaconfigured for short range communication. In blocks 2204-2212, theroutine 2200 iterates for each detected device 330. In block 2206, theroutine 2200 records information associated with the detected device330. The information can include, for example, the device's MAC address,the time and duration of time when the device 330 was present, andsignal strength while the device 330 is detected. In block 2208, theroutine 2200 adds the device 330 to a count of device traffic, and inblock 2210, the routine 2200 associates the device 330 with activity atthe kiosk 100 at the time when the device 330 was detected. In block2212, the routine 2200 proceeds to the next device 330 detected. Inblock 2214, the routine 2200 aggregates detected device data, and inblock 2216, the routine 2200 processes the aggregated data. For example,in some embodiments, processing data can include evaluating kiosk 100location quality and/or promotion opportunities by, for example,comparing high-traffic periods to kiosk 100 high-usage times; comparingtraffic at different locations; and/or analyzing the signal strength oftraffic to determine whether potential customers are close to or farfrom the kiosk 100. In some embodiments, processing data can includeidentifying devices 330 that are near the kiosk 100 at the time of (andthus possibly associated with) attempted fraudulent transactions, andadding the presence of such devices 330 to potential do-not-buyindicators, to potential hawker lists, etc. As another example,processing data can include identifying devices 330 that remain near thekiosk 100 without being sold at the kiosk 100, which may indicate thepresence of a hawker trying to compete with the kiosk 100. In someembodiments, processing data can include reselling data, packaging data,etc.

FIG. 23 is a flow diagram of a routine 2300 for locating a wirelessenabled electronic device such as the device 330 in accordance withembodiments of the present technology. In block 2302, the routine 2300wirelessly receives information associated with the device 330, forexample, information used to evaluate the device 330 for possiblepurchase as described above with reference to block 1006 of FIG. 10. Theinformation can include, for example, a unique identifier such as thedevice's IMEI number, and/or information describing the device'smanufacturer, model, characteristics, capabilities, and/or condition. Inblock 2304, the routine 2300 evaluates the information, and in block2306, the routine 2300 makes an offer to purchase the device 330 basedon the evaluated information. In decision block 2307, if the user doesnot accept the offer, then the routine ends. If, on the other hand, theuser accepts the offer and agrees to submit the device 330 at the kiosk100, then in block 2308, the routine 2300 tracks the location of thedevice 330. In some embodiments, the routine 2300 uses GPS locationinformation or other location data (e.g., indoor positioning system orreal-time locating system data) available on the device 330, e.g.,through the app installed on the device 330. In some embodiments, theroutine 2300 tracks the device's location over a short distance usingmultiple kiosk antennas. For example, the routine 2300 can use angularlyarrayed directional antennas to measure the strength of signals from thedevice 330 in multiple directions to estimate the location of the device330 without the use of triangulation. As another example, the routine2300 may use well-known multilateration techniques to locate the sourceof the device's wireless signal based on the timing of signals receivedfrom the device 330 at multiple antennas and/or triangulation techniquesto locate the source of the device's wireless signal based ondirectional information received at two or more antennas. In someembodiments, the routine 2300 adjusts the power of a wireless signal todetermine whether the device 330 is within the reduced range of thelow-power signal, or uses a short-range wireless receiver (e.g., NFC) totrack the device 330 to within the receiver's range. In someembodiments, the routine 2300 determines information about the device'slocation by detecting the device's signal strength and/or continuity,including changes in the device's signal strength. In some embodiments,signal strength detection can include implementation of a Faraday cageinto which the device 330 should pass. For example, if the kioskinspection area 108 behind the access panel or door 106 of FIG. 1 isconfigured to, for example, reflect wireless signals within theinspection area and/or attenuate wireless signals from outside theinspection area, then the kiosk 100 can detect whether the device 330 iswithin the inspection area by observing whether wireless signals fromthe device 330 are reflected or attenuated when the access panel or door106 is closed. In decision block 2310, the routine 2300 checks whetherthe device 330 is located within the kiosk 100. If the tracked locationof the device 330 is not within the kiosk 100, then in block 2312 theroutine 2300 rejects the submitted item that is apparently not thecorrect device 330. If, however, the tracked location of the device 330is within the kiosk 100, then in block 2314 the routine 2300 can acceptthe device 330 with confidence that the kiosk has received the correctdevice 330. The routine 2300 can then complete the purchase according tothe offer that the user accepted, after which the routine 2300 ends.

The present technology allows wireless enabled devices of various typessuch as mobile phones (smartphones and feature phones, for example),wearable computers, game devices, media players, desktop computers, etc.(e.g., the device 330) to be evaluated and purchased by an automatedkiosk 100 with improved ease and speed. The present technology enablesthe user to submit the device 330 in a reduced number of steps and totake advantage of a wireless connection between the device 330 and thekiosk 100 so that the user does not have to connect wires from the kiosk100 to the device 330. For example, the user may want to obtain anestimated price for his or her device 330 while maintaining possessionof the device 330; for example, the user may not wish to place his orher device 330 into the inspection area 108 of the kiosk 100. In someembodiments, the present technology provides a “quick quote” or initialprice estimate that the kiosk 100 can offer the user based on performingan analysis of the device 330 without requiring the user to give upcontrol of his or her device 330. The kiosk can perform a visualanalysis of the device 330 using one or more of the kiosk's externalcameras 116 a-c. For example, to initiate obtaining such a priceestimate, the user can swipe an NFC-enabled device 330 against or inclose proximity to (e.g., within a few inches of) an NFC sensor on thekiosk 100, or use the device 330 to scan a code such as a QR codedisplayed on the display screen 104. The user's action to initiate the“quick quote” process can, for example, launch the app on the user'sdevice 330 and/or transfer information about the user's device 330 fromthe device 330 to the kiosk 100. The kiosk 100 and/or the app mayinstruct the user to position the device 330 so that one or more of thecameras 116 a-c can image the device 330 to perform an initial visualanalysis of the device. For example, they may instruct the user to holdhis or her device at various angles or distances from the camera 116(e.g., to show components of the device 330 and/or information printedon the device 330), or direct the user to display particular content onthe screen 342 of the device 330 (e.g., a device information “about”screen or a screen displayed by the app) for evaluation by the kioskthrough the camera 116. If the information and/or initial visualanalysis are sufficient for the kiosk 100 to provide an initial quote,the kiosk 100 can provide the user a price or estimated range of pricesfor the device 330, e.g., via the display screen 104.

FIGS. 24A-24D, for example, are a series of display diagramsillustrating instructions for submitting the device 330 in accordancewith embodiments of the present technology. In some embodiments, thekiosk 100 displays the illustrated textual instructions and accompanyinggraphical diagrams on the display screen 104 in response to, e.g., auser initiating a transaction to recycle a wireless device 330 at thekiosk 100. The kiosk 100 can display instructions that include, forexample, animated graphics or text, photographs, and/or video guidanceto the user. In FIG. 24A, the illustrated display page 2410 instructsthe user to place his or her wireless device 330 within the kioskinspection area 108. The device 330 can be connected to the kiosk'swireless network, for example, so that the kiosk 100 has wirelesslyobtained information sufficient for an electrical evaluation of thedevice 330 as described above with respect to FIG. 10. In FIG. 24B, theillustrated display page 2420 indicates that the kiosk 100 is receivingthe wireless device 330, with the access panel or door 106 closing overthe inspection area 108. After the user places the device 330 in thekiosk 100 as instructed, the kiosk 100 performs a visual evaluation ofthe device 330 as described above with respect to FIG. 2B. In FIG. 24C,the kiosk 100 informs the user via a display page 2430 illustrating amessage that the device 330 has been detected, indicating successfulevaluation of the device 330 without a wired connection. In FIG. 24D,the illustrated display page 2440 presents an offer to purchase thecustomer's device 330 based on the wireless evaluation.

The present technology includes various other types and embodiments ofrecycling machines. For example, the present technology includesembodiments such as a countertop recycling station and/or a retailstore-based interface operated by or with the assistance of a retailemployee. As another example, the present technology includesembodiments such as a recycling machine configured to accept all kindsof devices, including larger items (e.g., desktop and laptop computers,televisions, gaming consoles, DVRs, etc.).

The above Detailed Description of examples and embodiments of theinvention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention tothe precise form disclosed above. Although specific examples for theinvention are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

References throughout the foregoing description to features, advantages,or similar language do not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present technology should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present technology. Thus,discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language,throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe present technology may be combined in any suitable manner in one ormore embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize thatthe present technology can be practiced without one or more of thespecific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In otherinstances, additional features and advantages may be recognized incertain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of thepresent technology.

Any patents and applications and other references noted above, includingany that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporatedherein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, ifnecessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the variousreferences described above to provide yet further implementations of theinvention.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,”“coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling,either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling orconnection between the elements can be physical, logical, or acombination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,”and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer tothis application as a whole and not to any particular portions of thisapplication. Where the context permits, words in the above DetailedDescription using the singular or plural number may also include theplural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to alist of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretationsof the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list,and any combination of the items in the list.

The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to othersystems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements andacts of the various examples described above can be combined to providefurther implementations of the invention. Some alternativeimplementations of the invention may include not only additionalelements to those implementations noted above, but also may includefewer elements. Further any specific numbers noted herein are onlyexamples: alternative implementations may employ differing values orranges.

Although the above description describes various embodiments of theinvention and the best mode contemplated, regardless how detailed theabove text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of thesystem may vary considerably in its specific implementation, while stillbeing encompassed by the present technology. As noted above, particularterminology used when describing certain features or aspects of theinvention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is beingredefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the following claims shouldnot be construed to limit the invention to the specific examplesdisclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Descriptionsection explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope ofthe invention encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also allequivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under theclaims.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thespirit and scope of the various embodiments of the invention. Further,while various advantages associated with certain embodiments of theinvention have been described above in the context of those embodiments,other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not allembodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within thescope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited,except as by the appended claims.

Although certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certainclaim forms, the applicant contemplates the various aspects of theinvention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the applicantreserves the right to pursue additional claims after filing thisapplication to pursue such additional claim forms, in either thisapplication or in a continuing application.

We claim:
 1. A computer-readable memory storing computer-executableinstructions for causing a consumer operated kiosk having a processor, adisplay, and a kiosk wireless transceiver to perform a method forprocessing an electronic device having a device wireless transceiver,the method comprising: receiving information about the electronicdevice; identifying the electronic device based on the information;determining that the electronic device is in an unacceptable state forprocessing based on the information; providing wireless access for theelectronic device to communicate with a remote server via the kioskwireless transceiver; providing directions via the display for a deviceuser to change the state of the electronic device from the unacceptablestate to an acceptable state using the wireless access; determiningwhether the electronic device is in the acceptable state for processing;when the electronic device is determined to still be in the unacceptablestate for processing, rejecting the electronic device; and when theelectronic device is determined to be in the acceptable state forprocessing, processing the electronic device wherein the electronicdevice includes a display, and wherein an unacceptable state forprocessing includes a state associated with a remote user account or anunactivated state, and wherein determining that the electronic device isin an unacceptable state for processing includes: obtaining an image ofthe display of the electronic device; analyzing the image; anddetermining that the image includes an indication of the unacceptablestate of the electronic device, based on the analyzing.
 2. Thecomputer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein determining that theelectronic device is in an unacceptable state for processing includesdetermining that the electronic device is associated with a remote useraccount and that an electronic device associated with a remote useraccount is in an unacceptable state for processing.
 3. Thecomputer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein determining that theelectronic device is in an unacceptable state for processing includesdetermining that the electronic device may be subject to a device killswitch and that an electronic device that may be subject to a devicekill switch is in an unacceptable state for processing.
 4. Acomputer-readable memory storing computer-executable instructions forcausing a consumer operated kiosk having a processor, a display, and akiosk wireless transceiver to perform a method for processing anelectronic device having a device wireless transceiver, the methodcomprising: receiving information about the electronic device;identifying the electronic device based on the information; determiningthat the electronic device is in an unacceptable state for processingbased on the information; providing wireless access for the electronicdevice to communicate with a remote server via the kiosk wirelesstransceiver; providing directions via the display for a device user tochange the state of the electronic device from the unacceptable state toan acceptable state using the wireless access; determining whether theelectronic device is in the acceptable state for processing; when theelectronic device is determined to still be in the unacceptable statefor processing, rejecting the electronic device; and when the electronicdevice is determined to be in the acceptable state for processing,processing the electronic device; wherein receiving information aboutthe electronic device includes: obtaining an image of the electronicdevice; analyzing the image; and determining that the image includes aunique identifier of the electronic device, based on the analyzing; andwherein determining that the electronic device is in an unacceptablestate for processing includes querying a database of devices that areassociated with a remote user account or a stolen phone database basedon the unique identifier of the electronic device.
 5. Thecomputer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein receiving information aboutthe electronic device includes querying a database of devices that areassociated with a remote user account by the kiosk.
 6. Thecomputer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein receiving information aboutthe electronic device includes querying a stolen phone database by thekiosk.
 7. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein anunacceptable state for processing includes a state associated with aremote user account or an unactivated state, and wherein determiningthat the electronic device is in an unacceptable state for processingincludes: querying an electronic interface of the electronic device; andreceiving information indicating the unacceptable state of theelectronic device in response to the querying.
 8. The computer-readablememory of claim 1 wherein determining that the electronic device is inan unacceptable state for processing includes determining that theelectronic device requires activation.
 9. The computer-readable memoryof claim 1, further comprising: determining a purpose for the wirelessaccess; identifying allowed types of communications associated with thepurpose; receiving wireless device communications; determining whetherthe received communications are allowed; and permitting only allowedcommunications.
 10. The computer-readable memory of claim 1, furthercomprising: specifying one or more allowed communication address ormessage type; receiving a wireless device communication; determiningthat the received communication address or message type is disallowed;providing a message to the user via the display; and canceling wirelessaccess for the electronic device.
 11. The computer-readable memory ofclaim 1 wherein processing the electronic device includes purchasing theelectronic device at the kiosk.
 12. A consumer operated kiosk forprocessing an electronic device for recycling, the kiosk comprising: adisplay; at least one camera; a wireless transceiver configured totransmit information to and receive information from the electronicdevice; a processor; at least one memory storing computer-executableinstructions configured to cause the processor to: receive informationfrom the electronic device via the wireless transceiver; obtain an imageof a display on the electronic device via the at least one camera;determine whether the electronic device is in an acceptable state forprocessing based at least in part on the information and/or the image;and when the electronic device is in an unacceptable state forprocessing, transmit instructions to the electronic device via thewireless transceiver and/or to the kiosk display for a user to changethe state of the electronic device from the unacceptable state to anacceptable state for processing.
 13. The kiosk of claim 12 furthercomprising a communication link configured to transmit information toand receive information from a server computer, wherein: the servercomputer includes a database; the information received from theelectronic device includes a unique identifier associated with theelectronic device; the information transmitted to the server includes aquery to the database using the unique identifier; and the informationreceived from the server includes a result of the query.
 14. The kioskof claim 13 wherein the database is a database of devices associatedwith remote user accounts, and wherein the query is configured todetermine if the electronic device is associated with a remote useraccount.
 15. The kiosk of claim 13 wherein the database is a database ofstolen electronic devices, and wherein the query to the database isconfigured to determine if the electronic device is a stolen device. 16.The kiosk of claim 13 wherein: the database is a database of devicesthat have been previously presented in an unacceptable state forprocessing; and the query to the database is configured to determine ifthe electronic device has repeatedly been presented in the unacceptablestate.